Calgary, AB – The Canadian NextGen mogul team faced dense fog for the second time this season at Apex Mountain Resort, but that didn’t stop them from delivering strong performances. Over the weekend Apex hosted the third and fourth events on the 2024-25 NorAm tour, with Canadian national and Quebec teams continuing to shine.
Saturday’s men’s mogul event was cut short due to poor visibility, like the Apex Classic in December. With judges unable to see the top of the course, the competition was halted mid-qualifications, and results were determined based on completed runs. This rarely used rule applied since the top 30 seeded skiers had competed, meaning the event was considered “substantially completed.” Unfortunately, 11 of the 53 registered men couldn’t start and had to wait for Sunday’s dual mogul event. The women’s event was decided based on a single run.
Despite the challenges, Canadian skiers had a strong showing. Seven Canadian men placed in the top 16—three from the national team and the rest from the Quebec program. On the women’s side, five Canadians reached the final, with Maya Mikkelsen earning silver and rookie Sina Clegg finishing just off the podium in fourth.
Sunday’s conditions improved, allowing for full competition. The highlight of the weekend came from Florence Laroche, who won her first-ever NorAm podium and victory in the women’s dual moguls. “She showed tremendous composure and really stepped up in the final rounds,” said coach Philippe Marquis. “I’m very proud of her—hopefully, this is just a stepping stone for her future.”
In addition to Laroche’s gold and Mikkelsen’s silver, Quebec’s Bradley Koehler secured bronze in duals. Marquis praised the Apex course, noting that while it’s tough to separate from the field, it remains an excellent venue for high-level competition.
“Apex has been a longtime partner of Freestyle Canada, hosting World Cups leading up to 2010 and, since then, serving as a key venue for early-season training, NorAms, and two Olympic preparation camps. Fog is rare here, and we always feel welcomed. We look forward to returning soon,” said Todd Allison, High Performance Director, Freestyle Canada.
With Apex now behind them, the NextGen team turns its attention to Stratton, Vermont, on March 1-2 for the next NorAm stop. “We’re home for a couple of days, then off again for another exciting weekend,” Marquis added.
Click here for the full weekends results
