Fernie (BC), Canada (Sunday, January 25, 2004) - Olympic champions Ales Valenta of the Czech Republic and Australian Alisa Camplin won World Cup aerials contests Sunday while U.S. aerialists struggled. Kate Reed (Montrose, CO), in sixth place, and Joe Pack (Park City, UT), in seventh, had the top American results.

Valenta received 250.53 points with World Cup leader Steve Omischl of Canada second at 240.06 while teammate Ryan Blais was third for the second week in a row (238.01). Camplin had 177.49 for 167.08 for Canadian Veronika Bauer with Elizabeth Gardner, another Aussie, third at 163.85.

Pack and Jeret Peterson (Boise, ID) were the two U.S. men in the competition and they reached finals, but had small problems landing their second jumps. Pack finished with 224.94 points and Peterson was 10th (201.13). Coach Matt Christensen said Ryan St. Onge (Steamboat Springs, CO) injured a knee in training and would be examined after the Ski Team returns home Monday.

Camplin, the defending World Cup champion, received 177.49 for her two jumps and she won her second straight event and Canadian Veronika Bauer was second at 167.08. Reed was sixth at 156.80.

The World Cup tour returns to the United States Friday and Saturday with three events during the Sprint U.S. Freestyle Grand National at Deer Valley, Utah, the 2002 Olympic venue and host of the 2003 World Championships. Moguls will be Friday, aerials Saturday afternoon and dual moguls Saturday night.

FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
Fernie World Freestyle
Fernie, BC - Jan. 25
Aerials (12 make finals)

Men
1. Ales Valenta, Czech Republic, 250.53 points
2. Steve Omischl, Canada, 240.06
3. Ryan Blais, Canada, 238.01
4. Dmitri Dashinski, Belarus, 25.72
5. Jeff Bean, Canada, 235.18
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7. Joe Pack, Park City, Utah, 224.94
10. Jeret Peterson, Boise, Idaho, 201.13

Women
1. Alisa Camplin, Australia, 177.49
2. Veronika Bauer, Canada, 187.08
3. Elizabeth Gardner, Australia, 163.85
4. Manuela Mueller, Switzerland, 161.69
5. Anna Zukal, Russia, 159.73
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6. Kate Reed, Montrose, Colo., 156.80
17. Kelly Hillman, Tonawanda, N.Y., 42.05
18. Christina Craddock, West Newton, Mass., 31.18