Canadians show well in freestyle moguls
SIERRA NEVADA, SPAIN — Canadians Alex Bilodeau and Mikael Kingsbury ended the World Cup freestyle moguls season with a bang Friday.
Bilodeau won the final World Cup event while Kingsbury earned the overall title for the second straight year.
Bilodeau, from Rosemere, Que., earned his fifth win and 10th podium of the season at the downgraded final. The dual event was altered to a one-run single mogul competition due to strong winds that reached 126 kilometres an hour.
Bilodeau had a score of 25.31 points to finish ahead of American Patrick Deneen (23.48). Quebec City’s Simon Pouliot-Cavanagh was third with 23.46 for his first World Cup podium finish.
Kingsbury finished fourth with 23.16 but still cemented the overall moguls crown as well as the overall freestyle title.
After long delays in reaching the top of the course, Bilodeau knew he would only have one run to make an impression.
“The weather was changing a lot but we knew that if 30 men could race our one run would count,” Bilodeau said. “So I went for it with a big jump on the top to go for the win because I knew it was only a one run competition.
“I’m feeling really good about my skiing, (the gold medal) is a good way to start training for the summer.”
On the women’s side, the downgraded event cost Justine Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal a chance to grab the Crystal Globe from American Hannah Kearney. Dufour-Lapointe was just 36 points behind the reigning Olympic champion going into the competition. But her fifth place from the qualifications with a score of 22.31 put her firmly in second overall with 640 points.
Kearney finished first with 23.71 points while Miki Ito of Japan was second with 22.94. American Heather McPhie took third with 22.81.
Dufour-Lapointe’s sister, dual mogul champion Chloe Dufour-Lapointe, finished fifth overall.
Maltais earns snowboard title
SIERRA NEVADA, SPAIN — Dominique Maltais of Canada wrapped up the World Cup snowboard cross title by winning the last event of the season, while Pierre Vaultier of France won the final men’s race.
Maltais became the first woman to win four races in a single season since 2009. She finished with 5,600 points, ahead of France’s Moenne Loccoz with 4,150.
“It’s crazy. I can’t believe it,” Maltais said. “I’m happy to finish the season with a big win and the globe. I’m really stoked.”
Alex Pullin of Australia had already clinched the men’s title and opted to sit out the last race on Thursday. Pullin ended the season with 4,550 points, in front of Markus Schairer of
Austria with 3,500.
Speed skating bronze for Nesbitt
SOCHI, RUSSIA — Canada’s Christine Nesbitt claimed a bronze medal at the world speed skating world championships Friday.
Nesbitt, of London, Ont., was third in the women’s 1,500-metre event behind Dutch skaters Ireen Wust and Lotte van Beek. Nesbitt was the defending champion in the event but Wust captured her second gold in as many days after winning the 3,000-metre race Thursday.
Denis Kuzin won Kazakhstan’s first major title by taking the men’s 1,000-metre competition.
Denny Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., was the top Canadian in 13th, one spot ahead of Edmonton’s Jamie Gregg.