Riddle solves Copper Mountain, wins halfpipe gold
Meanwhile, bobsleigh pilot Humphries makes her 10th consecutive trip up the World Cup podium
Not much fazes calm, cool and collected Canadian halfpipe skier Mike Riddle.
Just sneaking into a final as the 12th qualifier? Not a problem when you’re supremely confident in your ability. Fresh snow, wind and a slow pipe? Not an issue when you’re adept at blocking out the conditions and have got a first- rate wax technician.
Riddle, a Squamish resident by way of Sherwood Park, Alta., won an FIS World Cup event at Copper Mountain, Colo., on Friday, laying down back- toback 90- plus point runs to beat out a couple of Americans, 16- year- old Aaron Blunck and David Wise.
Canada also got a podium finish in the women’s event with Roz Groenewoud, also a Squamish resident, taking second place behind Maddie Bowman of the U. S.
Riddle, the reigning world champion and a guy who figures to be one of the favourites when the discipline makes its Olympic debut in Sochi in 2014, said he was “pretty stoked” to claim the win, given that he had earned the last spot into the finals on a tiebreaker on Thursday.
“We had challenging conditions today, a bunch of fresh snow overnight and it was snowing and windy. The visibility wasn’t real good and the pipe was really slow. I just tried to put down a run and try to be as clean as possible.”
Starting first in both runs in the final, Riddle scored 90.2 and 91.2 and then watched as none of the 11 other competitors could better that number. Blunck’s best was an 87.0, while Wise’s was an 83.6.
“I’ve been feeling really good mentally and physically,” said Riddle, 26. “I’m stronger than I’ve ever been and I knew I had a shot skiing the way I wanted to. I’m not getting stressed out about Olympic qualifying or anything like that, just trying to stay in the present and not think ahead.
“I have the equipment and the support staff. Everything’s lining up right now.”
Both Riddle and national team coach Trennon Paynter praised the work of ski technician Kenny Nault.
“I have to give a lot of credit to our wax guy, Kenny,” said Paynter. “The biggest challenge for everybody was maintaining speed in the pipe. Kenny really contributed to Mike going as big as he did when it was one of the things other guys were struggling with. Mike really stood out in maintaining his height through his run and his execution was right on the point.”
Matt Margetts of Penticton, who had qualified first on Thursday, struggled Friday, finishing 10th with a best score of 54.6.
Groenewoud, the reigning world and X Games champion, scored 79.2 on her second run. Bowman won with a best run of 84.0.
“Roz made a slight mistake on her final hit on both runs, didn’t nail it as perfect and solid as she can,” said Paynter.
Groenewoud said it was a tough week given that Thursday’s qualifying came one day after the one- year anniversary of a halfpipe crash that would eventually claim the life of good friend Sarah Burke, a Canadian freeskiing pioneer.
“I’m having a sad week, lots of tears,” said Groenewoud. “I’m just glad I was able to come out today and put down a run.”
Next up for the halfpipe skiers is Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., beginning Jan. 24.
BACK ON TOP: Bobsleigh pilot Kaillie Humphries of Calgary is back on top of the World Cup circuit, one week after having her record run of eight straight wins snapped at Altenberg, Germany, when she finished third.
Competing Friday at Konigssee, Germany, Humphries, the reigning world and Olympic champion, and first- year brakeman Chelsey Valois had two excellent runs in the Canada 1 sled for a combined time of one minute, 43.07 seconds.
“I felt great warming up,” said Humphries, who won the first five World Cups of this season after capturing the world title and the final two World Cups of the 2011- 12 season. “We had two great starts and I had two decent runs with no major mistakes. It is sweet to win again.”
German pilots Cathleen Martini ( 1: 43.49) and Sandra Kiriasis ( 1: 43.61) were second and third, respectively.
Humphries’ 10 consecutive podiums in World Cup and world championship competitions is a record.
“It’s a great feeling though, to know I’m in amongst the names of some of the best athletes, but I still feel there is room to improve and lots that I still want to achieve in the sport.”
In women’s skeleton on Friday at Konigssee, Mellisa Hollingsworth of Eckville, Alta., and Sarah Reid of Calgary powered through heavy snow to finish fourth and fifth, respectively. Nicole Pikus- Pace of the U. S. won the race followed by Germans Marion Thees and Anja Huber.
CALLING IT QUITS: Canadian speed skier Kelly VanderBeek, who missed a medal in Super G at the 2006 Olympics by just 3/ 100ths of a second, will announce her retirement today at her old ski club, Chicopee, in Kitchener, Ont.,
The longtime Chilliwack resident, who moved to Canmore, Alta., in the summer, missed nearly two full years of competition after being sidelined by a serious knee injury in November 2009. VanderBeek, 29, came back to race four World Cups last season but finished well back in the field and has now decided her knee won’t ever be strong enough to allow her to be competitive again.