The Canadian Freestyle Ski Team wrapped up its best-ever World Cup season with another four medal showing here in dual mogul action today. Jennifer Heil and Mikael Kingsbury took home silver medals while Alex Bilodeau and Justine Dufour-Lapointe were bronze.
In the final FIS World Cup of her career, Jenn Heil went against this year’s Crystal Globe winner, Hannah Kearney of the US, in the final dual of the day.
Heil lost control in the middle section of her final run and had to pull out before her second jump, ultimately losing to Kearney. But Heil has no regrets. She said, “I skied today like I have every run of my career. I laid my heart out on the course.”
Today’s silver was Heil’s 58th World Cup medal, in 94 career starts.
She mused, “I have nothing left to do on the hill and that’s a beautiful ending for me. I’m so at peace. I know I’ll miss the competition and the privilege of representing Canada around the world, but I’m ready to take my passion for challenging my limits and my potential off the slopes.”
Heil, who now lives in Montreal, also couldn’t close without a huge measure of appreciation for everyone who has helped her achieve her goals, including her coach and boyfriend Dominick Gauthier, the CFSA, B2ten and her sponsors, all of whom, she said, have allowed her to turn her passion into a job.
In men’s action, Kingsbury of Deux Montagnes, Que., got a little backseat and lost in the final round to World Cup 2010-11 overall points leader Guilbaut Colas of France. But it was Kingsbury’s dual with teammate Bilodeau that was the most exciting of the day.
It was the fourth time this season that Kingsbury and Bilodeau have gone head-to-head and the first time that Kingsbury managed to prevail over the Olympic Champion.
”Finally I got it,” exclaimed an ecstatic Kingsbury, “I pushed my limits and went really big on my bottom air and it worked.”
The silver was Kingsbury’s 10th medal of the season, including two at World Championships. He said, “My secret is my consistency and the fact that I always feel confident in the start gate. I now know what to do to be on the podium and I work super well with my coach Rob Kober, so the pieces are all coming together and I’m on the right road for 2014.”
With one event left for the season, the FIS Halfpipe World Cup Finals today from La Plagne France, Canada won gold in the women's and bronze in the men's competition. Canada has clinched the Freestyle Nations Cup for the sixth year in a row.
