Ruka, Finland – Patrick Deneen, of Cle Elum, Wash., and Hannah Kearney, of Norwich, Vt., started off the 2011 World Cup moguls season capturing both top spots for the U.S. Ski Team near the Arctic Circle in Ruka, Finland. It was the first career World Cup win for Deneen, the 2009 World Champion, and 11th for Kearney.nSetting aside all the jitters that come with the first competition of the season, Olympic champion Kearney threw down her first heli mute grab in competition to claim victory.
Kearney’s winning run started with a back layout off the first jump and a clean exit allowed her to carry her speed through the middle bumps.
“I was focused on my trick through the midsection,” said Kearney. “I was a little off balance on the second jump.” But she pulled in the landing and finished with the fastest time and highest turn score to just edge out Canadian Jennifer Heil.
Heil, the five-time Crystal Globe winner who now makes Montreal her home said, “It’s always great to be at the first World Cup of the season and to get back into the rhythm. I had a breakthrough on my skis at a training camp earlier in the season and I could feel it today, although I wasn’t skiing at my full limit. Now it’s time to charge it up for next week’s contest in France.”
For her part, Kristi Richards, of Summerland, British Columbia, was very excited to stand on the podium in third next to her Canadian teammate.
“I was so happy to be up there with Jenn. It was just so nice to start the season with all the Canadians doing so well, it was a great feeling for all the team,” she said, referring to the fact that five Canadian women made it to today’s 16-women final.
Richards said she had a difficult week and had to manage the emotions of her 20th place finish at the Vancouver Games.
“It’s been an interesting time for me, there have been a lot of emotions from the Games, and I’ve had to face them and overcome them by trying to simplify things – feeling wind on my face, snow under my skis, and by being patient on my jumps,” Richards added.
A new jump package also allowed Deneen to have the fastest run of the night on his way to victory, besting Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury and Guilbaut Colas of France.
“Patrick did a great job,” said U.S. Ski Team Head Moguls Coach Scott Rawles. “He has retooled his jump package which allows him to be even faster, which has always been a strength of his.”
Deneen’s new jumps are an off-axis 720 on the first hit and a crossed back flip on the second jump.
Kingsbury, of Deux-Montagnes, Quebec, took home his first FIS World Cup medal. He posted the best air points of the finals, which earned him the silver medal with a score of 24.89. At only 18, last season’s FIS Rookie of the Year, Kingsbury pulled off a double full at the top of the course and a cork 1080 on the bottom air.
“Everything went really well on the run and I didn’t make any mistakes today,” Kingsbury said. “I feel fast and strong in the moguls. I’m so happy; you’ve never seen a smile this big on my face. I’ve been waiting to win a World Cup medal since I was eight years old watching the World Cup at Tremblant.”
Saturday marked the second time Kearney has been on top of the podium in a Ruka World Cup. On her last visit to the resort at the gateway to Lapland, she took gold in the 2005 World Championships.
“It is a good omen to have two more people on top,” exclaimed Rawles, after the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team’s successful start to the 2011 season. “We worked hard all summer, and everyone was psyched.”
Conditions in Ruka were chilly, just above 10°F, but the course was in great condition, allowing the athletes to showcase their talents unencumbered.
“The course was nice, difficult with deep tight moguls. It required perfect balance and was very skilful,” said Kearney, adding, “Today was my mom’s birthday and I really wanted to win for her.”
Eliza Outrrim, of Steamboat Springs, Colo., finished just outside the podium in fourth. Four U.S. women and two men made the top-16 finals including World Cup Rookie of the Year Heidi Kloser, of Vail, Colo., in 10th and Bozeman, Mont.’s Heather McPhie in 13th for the women and Jeremy Cota, of Carrabassett Valley, Maine, who finished 14th for the men.
This Wednesday, freestyle competition resumes in Meribel, France with dual moguls. Then it’s off to Beida Lake, China. This event marks the first time a World Cup moguls competition will have been held in China.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Freestyle World Cup
Ruka, Finland – Dec. 11, 2010
Moguls
Men
1. Patrick Deneen, Cle Elum, WA, 25.23
2. Mikael Kingsbury, Canada, 24.89
3. Guilbaut Colas, France, 24.78
4. Dmitriy Reiherd, Kazakhstan, 24.61
5. Cedric Rochon, Canada, 23.99
Women
1. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT, 24.09
2. Jennifer Heil, Canada, 24.02
3. Kristi Richards, Canada, 23.52
4. Eliza Outtrim, Steamboat Springs, CO, 22.97
5. Justine Dufor-Lapointe, Canada, 22.76