Calgary, Alberta – As the curtains closed on the 2023/24 FIS Freestyle World Cup season, the picturesque slopes of Chiesa in Valmalenco, Italy, played host to the 2024 Dual Moguls finale competition on Saturday, March 16. After a globe-trotting tour spanning nearly four months, the competition returned to Europe, culminating in an electrifying showdown on the “Dosso” course at Alpe Palu. Valmalenco, renowned for its history of hosting premier FIS competitions, once again provided the perfect backdrop for the season’s climax, welcoming athletes and fans to a venue steeped in winter sports tradition.
Mikael Kingsbury, defeated Takuya Shimakawa in the big fianal securing his 90th World Cup victory in style and setting a personal record with 10 wins in a single season. Not content with merely dominating the dual moguls event, Kingsbury had just last week secured the overall moguls World Cup title through his double win in Bakuriani, Georgia. Although Kingsbury clinched his 25th and 26th crystal globes in Almaty he is finally now able to take them home and share them with his family.
This year’s return of the mogul World Cup to Chiesa in Valmalenco held special significance, marking the venue’s resurgence as a pivotal stop on the World Cup circuit, particularly for dual moguls competitions. The anticipation was palpable as athletes geared up to tackle the challenges of the “Dosso” course, setting the stage for a day filled with intense competition and unforgettable performances.
Rounding up the Canadian contingent were three men: Elliot Vaillancourt (9th), Julien Viel (17th), Gabriel Dufresne (20th) and two women: Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert (18th), and Maia Schwinghammer who secured a commendable 5th place finish after a loss to the eventual silver medallist, Jaelin Kauf (USA).
Most of the Canadian team members now return to Canada to compete at the Canadian Championships in Val St.-Come, Quebec on March 30 and 31.
