Calgary, AB – It was an exercise of speed prediction with the coaches and athletes as Freestyle Canada’s Aerial Team showcased their skill at the Deer Valley World Cup event, overcoming challenging weather conditions to deliver impressive performances. Snowy and windy conditions, causing inconsistent speeds for athletes, forced the cancellation of qualifications resulting in a modified event format where all athletes competed in the first final round and only the top six, instead of the usual twelve, advanced to the next round, which was the final round.
High Performance Director, Todd Allison mused that, “this was when they could have really used a crystal ball to predict wind, snow and speed for each jumper.” In the time from when the FIS Race Director starts the 20 second countdown clock until the time each jumper leaves the end of the jump, there can be a drastic change in wind speed and direction and the snow can accumulate, both affecting the athlete’s speed.
Strong Performances in the Men’s Competition
Miha Fontaine led the Canadian men, with his best individual World Cup finish of the season, earning a spot in the Superfinal after qualifying in sixth place with a back double full-full. In the Superfinal, he attempted his signature back double full double full, a quadruple twisting, double flip, but narrowly missed the landing, retaining his sixth-place finish from qualifications. Fontaine was part of the Mixed Aerial Team for the bronze medal at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and again at the Lake Placid World Cup (January, 2025). Right behind him, Alexandre Duchaine and Victor Primeau claimed seventh and eighth place, respectively. The three Canadian men opted for high-difficulty doubles in the first round, executing near perfect jumps despite the tough conditions. They felt the speed was more predictable doing doubles at about 58km/h instead of triples which would have needed speeds of about 67km/h.
Lewis Irving did perform a triple; he came agonizingly close on his back lay double full-full attempt but fell just short on speed and did a “punch front”, finishing in 11th place. Anthony Noel (15th) and Pierre-Olivier Côté (20th) rounded out the Canadian men’s results.
With China absent due to their participation in the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, American Quinn Dehlinger took advantage of the opportunity, securing gold. Ukraine’s Dmytro Kotovskyi claimed silver, while American Christopher Lillis earned bronze.
Historic Podium in the Women’s Competition
Australia made history with a podium sweep in the women’s event. Laura Peel won gold, Danielle Scott took silver, and Abbey Willcox secured bronze. Canada’s Marion Thénault finished in eighth place, while Charlie Fontaine finished in 12th, navigating the unpredictable conditions that challenged athletes throughout the event.
The experience gained managing both the external weather challenges and the mental demands of an evolving competition structure provided valuable experience to all athletes.
Eyes on World Championships Selection
The top-eight finishes for three of the Canadian men intensify the internal battle for selection to the World Championship roster. The final number of available spots for each discipline will be determined following the Halfpipe World Cup in Calgary over Family Day weekend.
Despite the unpredictable conditions, Deer Valley once again proved to be a world-class venue and fantastic host, managing the challenges and drawing an enthusiastic crowd. The Canadian aerial team now turns their focus to their next competition in Beidahu, China, from February 21-24.
