Canada’s Prospects Bright

The new Olympic sport of Freestyle Halfpipe seem brighter than ever, if the recent World Cup is any indication of what lies ahead.

Canadian men placed four in the top five Friday at Canada Olympic Park event that included reigning World Cup champion Mike Riddle of Sherwood Park, who was sidelined with a bruised heel.

Vernon’s Justin Dorey, Calgary’s Noah Bowman and Penticton’s Matt Margetts finished first to third respectively in the halfpipe, which makes its official Olympic debut in Sochi, Russia at the 2014 Olympic Games.

Whistler’s Simon d’Artois finished with a fifth place standing on the leader board.

“We have a lot of talent on the halfpipe team right now,” Dorey said. “I think we’re all capable of putting down podium runs.”

At the young age of 25 Dorey posted a combined two-run score of 87.20 points for his first ever World Cup victory. A young Bowman, who is only 21, placed second with a 84.40 score, while 25 year old Margetts grabbed third with a score of 82.60.

Calgary’s Megan Gunning finished just outside the women’s medals, but this by no means is the final for skiing in her life.

Britain’s Rowan Cheshire won the Women’s event scoring 80.40 points, while Switzerland’s Virginie Faivre grabbed a second place finish with 79.80 points.

Amy Sheehan of Australia third with 79.20, while Edmonton’s Keltie Hansen was eighth.

As in snowboard halfpipe, the freestylers use momentum and speed that was generated by the pipe’s slopes to gain air and perform various tricks that they are looking to perfect.

Former world champion from Squamish Rosalind Groenewoud, was unable to compete as she underwent surgery on both her knees last month, and isn’t quite ready for competition, but she is persistent that she intends to compete in Sochi.

The U.S. team wasn’t in Calgary so reigning world champion David Wise and world silver medallist Torin Yater-Wallace were not in the men’s field.

“There’s no doubt there were some strong podium contenders who weren’t at this event, so that opens up a little bit of room,” Canadian coach Trennon Paynter said. “That being said, our guys who podiumed today have all podiumed at major events in the past.

“We had four of the top five. It’s one of the best results we’ve ever had as a team. At this time of the year as we’re building towards going into Sochi, it’s such a positive note. We’re all stoked.”

Thanks to Canadian Press for the photo.