The competitive mogul skiing season officially ended here today for the Canadian National Freestyle Team with the conclusion of the Canadian National Mogul Championships. Eighty skiers from across the country competed on soft bumps under clear skies for the titles of national champion in single and dual moguls.
In yesterday’s singles competition Mikael Kingsbury from Deux-Montagnes, Que. won the men’s field, followed by Quebec City’s Philippe Marquis and Marc-Antoine Gagnon of Terrebonne, Que. All three are members of the National Team.
It was Kingsbury’s fourth consecutive national title (he won singles and duals in 2011, then singles last year when there was no duals event). And although the reigning single mogul World Champ has two Crystal Globes and 16 World Cup victories on his résumé, he recognizes the significance of competing, and winning, against the next generation.
On the women’s side, the singles title went to Chloé Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal, Que. who edged her little sister Justine. This year’s FIS Rookie of the Year, Penticton, B.C.’s Andi Naude took the bronze. National Champ in duals in 2010, the singles title was a first for Chloé.
The 2013 World Champion in dual moguls added that she was very happy to have the chance to compete at home in Quebec this year, “It was so fun. All my family was there and it was so great to see all the little fans after the competition. It was really nice to have the home crowd.”
This dual mogul event, big sister Maxime Dufour-Lapointe wrapped up a successful National Champs for the three sisters by winning the dual moguls while Chloé and Justine took the day off. Naude won the silver medal and Alberta Team member Clare Lambert of Calgary was third in a close battle with Beatrice Bilodeau of Rosemère, Que.
She also said that she noticed some great talent from the up-and-coming skiers, “I think in a few years there are going to be a lot of good skiers coming up on the girls side, especially when they improve and mature physically. I saw them wanting to push their skills and push their limits.
That’s why my sisters and I started mogul skiing and it’s nice to see that attitude is still strong.”
For her part, bronze medalist 18-year-old Lambert, who has been with the Alberta Mogul Team for four years, said, “I’m still in shock about today, can’t believe I got a medal.”
The University of Calgary student said her goal is to make the Canadian National Team and ski on the World Cup circuit.
On the men’s side, Olympic Champion and three-time dual mogul World Champion Alex Bilodeau was the big winner. Gagnon was second and Marquis won the bronze.
Kingsbury opted not to compete in the dual mogul event today, stating that he and his coach decided he could use the rest after a very busy season.
Today’s event also wrapped up the Canada Cup. This year’s winners; based on results from Canadian Selections, Canadian Series events, Junior Nationals and Senior Nationals, are Lambert in the women’s division and Laurent Dumais in the men’s.
This prestigious award recognizes the best young talent in Canada’s mogul field for 2013.
