Fernie (BC), Canada (Saturday, January 24, 2004) - Olympian Jillian Vogtli (Ellicotville, NY) and World Cup rookie Nate Roberts (Park City, UT) each finished second Saturday in a fog-delayed World Cup dual moguls contest as U.S. skiers grabbed three podium spots, and four of the top six places in the women's event, three of the top six in the men's contest.

Canadians Elisa Kurylowicz and Jim Schiman won the events at Fernie Alpine Resort.

"We're pretty happy with the day," said U.S. moguls Head Coach Donnie St. Pierre. "This gives us good momentum going into Deer Valley [Utah] next week."

In the men's event, Roberts - injured in a crash two weeks earlier at Mont Tremblant, Que. - earned his second podium of the season, following his first World Cup win at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, before Christmas. Luke Westerlund (Breckenridge, CO), who had been second each of the last two weekends - at Tremblant, outside Montreal, and then Lake Placid during the Nature Valley Freestyle Cup - was fifth with Toby Dawson (Vail, CO) sixth.

Vogtli bettered her previous top result, a third in moguls (2002) and duals (1998), by finishing second to Kurylowicz. Third place went to Robertson with Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT) fifth and Shannon Bahrke (Tahoe City, CA) in sixth.

"That's the first podium of the season for both Jillian and Shelly, so that's a nice step up in a tough situation," St. Pierre said. "And, of course, it's a huge reward for Nate after his crash at Tremblant...and he should be feeling his oats coming into his backyard at Deer Valley."

Deer Valley, Olympic venue in 2002 and host of the 2003 World Championships, hosts the Sprint U.S. Freestyle Grand National Jan. 30-31 with moguls, aerials and then a nighttime dual moguls event.

The competition was delayed more than an hour because of fog. World Cup moguls leader and 2002 Olympic champion Janne Lahtela of Finland crashed in the semifinals (qualifying) and was taken off the course on a backboard by medical personnel. The World Cup weekend concludes Sunday with men's and women's aerials.


FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
Fernie, BC – Jan. 24
Dual Moguls (Top 16 make finals)

Men
1. Jim Schiman, Canada
2. Nate Roberts, Park City, Utah
3. Vladimir Tiumentsev, Russia
4. Lauri Lassila, Finland
5. Luke Westerlund, Breckenridge, Colo.
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6. Toby Dawson, Vail, Colo.
17. Ryan Riley, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
25. Brady Johnson, Littleton, Colo.
35. Travis Cabral, South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
48. Dave Babic, Washington, Vt.

Women
1. Elisa Kurylowicz, Canada
2. Jillian Vogtli, Ellicotville, N.Y.
3. Shelly Robertson, Reno, Nev.
4. Stephanie St. Pierre, Canada
5. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, Vt.
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6. Shannon Bahrke, Tahoe City, Calif.
20. Emiko Torito, Denver
26. Laurel Shanley, Squaw Valley, Calif.