The 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Mogul and Aerial World Cup season wrapped up with an exciting finish in Livigno, Italy, where Canada’s skiers delivered standout performances. As one of two Milano-Cortina 2026 Test Events, these competitions provided athletes with a valuable opportunity to gain experience on the courses and familiarize themselves with the venue, village, environmental conditions and the Italian culture.
Kingsbury and Schwinghammer Secure Podium Finishes in the Mogul World Cup Standings
Once again, Mikaël Kingsbury demonstrated why he is one of the greatest mogul skiers of all time.
In the men’s mogul event on March 11, Kingsbury claimed silver with a score of 82.90, finishing behind Japan’s Ikuma Horishima. Despite placing second on the day, Kingsbury’s consistency throughout the season earned him his 28th career Crystal Globe, securing the top spot in the Mogul World Cup standings with 755 points.
On the women’s side, Maia Schwinghammer delivered a strong performance, finishing just shy of the podium in fourth place. This result was enough to secure her third place in the Mogul World Cup rankings for the 2024-25 season, behind Jaelin Kauf (USA), who claimed the Crystal Globe, and Perrine Laffont (France), who finished second.
Other Canadian skiers participating in the Mogul World Cup Finals included Gabriel Dufresne (7th), Sam Goodison (11th), Julien Viel (16th), Sam Cordell (17th), and on the women’s side Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert (13th), Jessica Linton (20th), and Ashley Koehler (25th).
Kingsbury Claims Dual Mogul and Overall Mogul Titles
The Dual Mogul Final on March 12 featured intense head-to-head battles, with several Canadians facing off against each other. Julien Viel and Elliot Vaillancourt bested teammates Sam Cordell and Sam Goodison in the qualification rounds before Viel edged out Vaillancourt in the Round of 8. Viel ultimately placed 7th, with Joey Dubuc (10th), Gabriel Dufresne (11th), Vaillancourt (15th), Goodison (20th), and Cordell (25th) also delivering solid performances.
Kingsbury reclaimed his place atop the podium, defeating Horishima in a thrilling Big Final. With this victory, he secured not only gold in the Dual Mogul event but also his second and third Crystal Globes of the season—the 29th and 30th of his career—winning both the Dual Mogul and Overall Mogul titles.
On the women’s side, Schwinghammer reached the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Australia’s Charlotte Wilson, finishing 9th. Wilson, named Rookie of the Year the day prior, went on to claim her first World Cup podium, defeating 2024-25 triple Globe winner Jaelin Kauf in the Big Final. Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert matched her mogul result from the previous day with another 13th-place finish, while Jessica Linton placed 21st.
Canadian Aerialists Battle Strong Field at Olympic Test Event
The final competition of the Olympic test event concluded on March 13 with the Aerial World Cup, where Canadian aerialists showcased their skills against a highly competitive international field.
On the men’s side, Lewis Irving and PO Côté led the Canadian charge into the first final. Irving delivered a solid back double full-full-full, securing third place heading into the Superfinal. Côté also put in a strong performance with his second full-full-full of the day, but narrowly missed the top six, finishing in eighth.
In the Superfinal, Irving executed a back full double full-full but, unfortunately missed the landing, leaving him just short of the podium. Against a field performing quintuple-twisting jumps, his effort earned him a fifth-place finish.
Victor Primeau (14th), Miha Fontaine (15th), and Marion Thénault (16th) also delivered strong performances in a deep and competitive field.
“Test events are a crucial step the Organizing Committee takes when preparing for the Olympic Winter Games, and it was great to see the progress they have made”, said Todd Allison, High Performance Director of Freestyle Canada. “In less than a year, the mogul and aerial venues have gone from concept to reality, and with a few final updates, they’ll provide a world-class stage next February. Beyond the venues, the organizers successfully tested key operational elements—accreditation, spectator services, security, press, medical, broadcast, and ceremonies—ensuring everything is on track. Seeing this level of readiness gives us confidence, and we can’t wait to return in 11 months to watch our Canadian athletes take on the World.”
The Milano-Cortina 2026 Test Event provided valuable experience for the athletes, who now turn their focus to the World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland—the Mogul competition begins on March 15, with Aerials following on March 24.
