Calgary, AB – Canadian mogul skier Maia Schwinghammer demonstrated the rise in her performance and skill on Deer Valley’s legendary Champion run, securing a third-place finish despite being on one of the most difficult courses of the season. The event, marked by rain and unseasonably warm temperatures, deteriorated the course and made for rough skiing conditions all week.
Schwinghammer’s podium finish comes hot on the heels of her first ever, gold medal performance which was on home soil in Val St.-Come, Quebec last week, building on her strong season. Returning to the location of her first appearance at the World Championships in Deer Valley back in 2019, Schwinghammer placed third behind Jaelin Kauf (USA), who claimed her first Moguls win of the season, and Perrine Laffont (FRA), in second. Schwinghammer’s performance reflected her ability to adapt and excel under grueling conditions.
“It was really tough with the challenging conditions. I’m happy with my management and how I skied in finals. I felt great standing on the Deer Valley podium,” said Schwinghammer after her bronze-medal performance. Fellow Canadian Ashley Koehler also impressed qualifying in 13th place for the big final; she made an error in her second competitive run causing her not to finish and placing 16th. Koehler earned her way to Deer Valley after a 7th place performance earlier this season in Waterville Valley, USA.
In the men’s competition, the treacherous course claimed some big names, including Canadian mogul legend Mikaël Kingsbury. Kingsbury caught an edge right before the second jump during the big final, missing his chance to advance to the Superfinal — a rare occurrence for the dominant skier. The Champion Run once again lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest courses in the world with ten skiers out of 56 not able to finish their qualifying run.
Julien Viel continued his breakthrough season, demonstrating the talent the coaching staff always believed he had. Coming off a silver medal in Val St.-Come, Viel returned to the Superfinal this week, finishing just shy of the podium in fourth place. His consistent performances show he is learning how to stay focused and deliver under pressure, a promising sign for future competitions, including the 2025 World Championships which will take place in March in Engadin, SUI.
Despite the challenges, Canada’s Joey Dubuc delivered a standout performance. A last-minute addition to the roster, Dubuc arrived after the team and had just one day to train. Initially slated to compete only in Dual Moguls, he was called upon to ski the Moguls event due to a strategic decision to extend Louis-David Chalifoux’s return to competition following knee surgery. Dubuc, who exceeded all expectations last week in Val St.-Come with a 10th place finish, confirmed his skill in the coaches’ eyes by placing 20th here on one of the most demanding courses of the World Cup circuit.
“To step up like that, with minimal preparation, speaks volumes about Joey’s skill and determination. Another strong World Cup performance with the top-20 finish is a huge achievement,” said Head Coach Jim Schiman.
Other Canadian results included Elliot Vaillancourt placing ninth after making the finals. Sam Cordell (25th), Gabriel Dufresne (32nd), and Sam Goodison (DNF) rounded out the men’s roster. On the women’s side, Jessica Linton finished 19th, and Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert placed 28th.
The Superfinal was a different show without Kingsbury however, Japan’s Ikuma Horishima dazzled the crowd with a masterful Double Full up top and a 1440 off the bottom air, earning him the men’s title with a commanding score of 86.24. Kazakhstan’s Pavel Kolmakov claimed second place with 84.95, while France’s Benjamin Cavet secured third with 83.82 points.
The action in Deer Valley continues with Aerials on Friday, February 7, followed by Dual Moguls on Saturday. Canada’s athletes will look to carry their momentum forward as they navigate another weekend of high-stakes competition.
The action in Deer Valley continues with Aerials on Friday, February 7, followed by Dual Moguls on Saturday. Canada’s athletes will look to carry their momentum forward as they navigate another weekend of high-stakes competition.
