Kingsbury builds on his freestyle legacy
Canadian skier Mikaël Kingsbury made his 2021 world championship experience twice as nice on Tuesday, by winning the dual moguls event a day after capturing the singles crown in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
By doubling up, the 28-yearold from Deux-Montagnes, Que. carved out more space for himself in the sport's record book as the first male freestyle skier to successfully defend both moguls titles. He won them the first time in 2019 in Deer Valley.
“Winning two back-to-back World Cups is difficult, but winning two back-to-back world championships is even more challenging,” Kingsbury said. “It's insane to know that I have been able to achieve this feat once again.”
In dual moguls action, skiers go head to head in match-play format and advance if they are fastest down the mountain, provided they incorporate technically sound turns and tricks in the air.
Kingsbury beat Australian Matt Graham in the Big Final to secure the gold — his 11th career world championship medal. Japan's Ikuma Horishima beat Canada's Brenden Kelly for bronze.
In women's action, 21-year-old Sofiane Gagnon of Whistler led the Canadian contingent by finishing fourth.
“The course and the conditions were very difficult today, especially the red course,” Kingsbury said. “I lost a little bit of balance before the second jump but was able to absorb it well in the landing to cross the finish line. I have to agree that today was not everyone's best skiing. It was the kind of day where if you are able to cross the finish line, you have a chance to win.”
Kingsbury missed the first three World Cups of the season after fracturing his T4 and T5 vertebrae in a training run in December.