On Thursday evening, Deer Valley Resort came alive as thousands of fans gathered for the start of the World Cup. The excitement kicked off with the solo moguls competition. U.S. skier Jaelin Kauf clinched the women’s title, while Japan’s Ikuma Horishima took home the men’s title.
Kauf thrilled her supporters, many holding large ‘J’ signs, by achieving a winning score of 80.75 in the super finals. Last to compete, top-ranked skier Perrine Laffont from France, could not surpass Kauf’s score, securing her second place.
Horishima also impressed the crowd with a spectacular performance. His final score of 86.24 ranks as the third highest ever recorded at Deer Valley. He outperformed Kazakhstan’s Pavel Kolmakov, who finished in second place with a score of 84.95.
“It’s such a special night,” Kauf said. “Couldn’t script it better than that.” She expressed her joy at competing in front of a crowd she believes rivals the Olympics in energy.
Nick Page, another U.S. skier and local favorite, finished sixth after struggling with his top jump. Kauf and Page both mentioned how loud the crowd was, which pushed them through the competition.
Kauf is grateful for her fans, whom she calls her “J-cation” crew. They will support her at upcoming events, including the duals on Saturday and the World Championships in Switzerland.
With the competition being tough, Kauf managed to close the gap in overall rankings, now trailing Laffont by just 36 points. She earned the yellow bib as the top women’s dual mogulist and is eyeing three Crystal Globes for her performance this season.
A highlight of the night for Kauf was winning a unique trophy—a wooden ski made by her boyfriend and coach, Brad Wilson. She looks forward to having a special note engraved on it.
Horishima expressed pride in his aerial tricks and was pleased with his victory on the challenging course. He described Deer Valley as the most demanding course he’s faced, showcasing the strength and strategy required under the slushy conditions.
This win marked Horishima’s fourth victory at Deer Valley and his first World Cup win since last year. He noted that the slushy snow posed a real challenge, impacting the speed and maneuverability needed for his performance.
Aside from Page, Parkite skier Charlie Mickel achieved his highest Cup finish by placing fifth. Page celebrated Mickel’s achievement, knowing it could be a significant boost for his career.
Looking ahead, both skiers are keen for cooler temperatures to firm up the course. They are aware that racing in the sticky conditions could lead to dangerous situations.
For those interested in the upcoming aerials and duals events, here’s the schedule:
Friday — Aerials FIS World Cup:
- 11 a.m. – Women’s Aerials Qualifications
- 1:05 p.m. – Men’s Aerials Qualifications
- 7:30 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Aerials Finals
- 8:40 p.m. – Awards Ceremony
Saturday — Dual Moguls FIS World Cup:
- 4 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Preliminary Rounds
- 7:30 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Finals
- 8:55 p.m. – Awards Ceremony
Source link
home,park city
