There’s no doubt that Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury is the star of the Moguls world and at 26, he shows no signs of slowing down. He won his fifth straight World Cup events in Calgary on Saturday, scoring 84.17 points to easily outdistance runner-up Walter Wallberg (SWE), who scored 80.98.
Kingsbury also extended his streak of medals in World Cup competitions to 23 straight over three seasons. And it was the seventh time he has won in Calgary, one of his favorite venues. His 53rd World Cup win extended his own record for the most wins ever.
“I’m four for four, so it’s a good start to the season, and it’s good because it gives me a chance to pull ahead in overall standings,” said Kingsbury. “But the best part is that I’m feeling better and better on my skis, which is cool.”
In the women’s Moguls in Calgary, Kazakhstan’s Yulia Galysheva claimed her first win and second medal of the season with a tight win over France’s reigning World Cup champion, Perrine Laffont, 79.10-77.96. American Jaelin Kauf scored her second medal of the season in third.
The second Slopestyle event of the World Cup calendar was held in Font Romeu (FRA), with American Alex Hall winning the men’s competition is a very tight event with Canada’s Philippe Lagevin, 92.11-9027, with reigning World Cup champ Andri Ragettli (SUI) third with 89.06. Hall actually won the event on his first run, scoring 90.59 points, but after Lagevin scared his lead with his 90.27 mark, Hall improved to with his final-round 92.11.
For the 20-year-old Hall, it was his third career World Cup medal and second win, all in the last two seasons. “I’m really stoked we got some amazing weather today after a tough week of wind,” said Hall. “Everyone killed it today and I was hyped to be a part of it and land on top!”
Another American, 15-year-old Eileen Gu scored her first career World Cup medal with a second in the Slopestyle final.She said afterwards, “I’m insanely happy to get my first World Cup podium. Coming into the contest, I just wanted to land a run and am over the moon I was able to do that.”
Swiss Sarah Hoefflin won with 78.52 points, her first World cup win in two years and her second ever (and seventh career World Cup medal). Hoefflin took the Slopestyle event lead at 180 points, with Gu now second with 104. Summaries:
FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup
Calgary (CAN) ~ 11-12 January 2019
(Full results here)
Men’s Moguls: 1. Mikael Kingsbury (CAN), 84.17; 2. Walter Wallberg (SWE), 80.98; 3. Daichi Hara (JPN), 78.14; 4. Matt Graham (AUS), 77.12; 5. Hunter Bailey (USA), 76.61.
Women’s Moguls: 1. Yulia Galysheva (KAZ), 79.10; 2. Perrine Laffont (FRA), 77.96; 3. Jaelin Kauf (USA), 76.10; 4. Jakara Anthony (AUS), 74.89; 5. Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN), 73.43. Also: 6. Tess Johnson (USA), 73.03.
FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup
Font Romeu (FRA) ~ 10-12 January 2019
(Full results here)
Men’s Slopestyle: 1. Alex Hall (USA), 92.11; 2. Philippe Langevin (CAN), 90.27; 3. Andri Ragettli (SUI), 89.06; 4. Birk Ruud (NOR), 87.30; 5. Mac Forehand (USA), 87.17. Also: 12. Nicholas Goepper (USA), 76.51; … 14. William Borm (USA), 62.22.
Women’s Slopestyle: 1. Sarah Hoefflin (SUI), 78.52; 2. Eileen Gu (USA), 78.03; 3. Giulia Tanno (SUI), 74.54; 4. Anastasia Tatalina (RUS), 65.07; 5. Caroline Claire (USA), 63.55. Also: 7. Maggie Voisin (USA), 56.68; … 13. Devin Logan (USA), 40.94; … 17. Julia Krass (USA), 13.14.
