Calgary, AB – February 1, 2025- A frigid yet electric night at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in Val St. Come, Quebec, saw hometown hero Mikaël Kingsbury deliver another spectacular performance. Local fans and many family members who travelled from afar to cheer were undeterred by temperatures plunging below -20°C where they witnessed the moguls legend clinch victory in the Dual Moguls event to complete a flawless weekend on home soil.
Kingsbury dominated every round of duals, culminating in a showdown with close friend and rival Benjamin Cavet (FRA). The win extended Kingsbury’s lead in the race for the Dual Moguls crystal globe to 232 points, bringing him closer to the elusive 100th World Cup win.
“It’s amazing. At the top of every round, especially the last one, I could hear the crowd. I really, really wanted to win that one. It was a crazy night of duals—super fast. I’m glad I won. To do it back-to-back at home is unreal,” said Kingsbury.
Kingsbury’s connection with Cavet was evident as the two rode the chairlift together before the final run. “Ben is my good friend. I have so much respect for that guy. It’s rare, but we went up in the chair together for the final run, just chatting about random stuff. I know he wanted to win that one and grab the yellow bib, but it was a good fight. It’s always fun to compete with someone you respect a lot,” Kingsbury added.
When asked about his 96th career win and the possibility of reaching 100, the Canadian icon joked, “Yeah, I’d love to get to 100. We’re getting closer, but I’ll just take it one race at a time. We’re heading to Deer Valley for a chance to get to 97, so I know I’ll get there. Hopefully when I do, FIS will have a nice present or something—maybe a Rolex. It would be nice, eh?”
A Strong Night for Canadian Skiers
Team Canada had a standout night overall, with six athletes advancing to the big finals, including four men and two women.
On the men’s side, Joey Dubuc achieved a career milestone with a breakout 10th-place finish, showing great promise for the future. Julien Viel followed up his silver medal in Friday’s individual event with a solid seventh-place result. Sam Goodison rounded out the top Canadian men with a 14th-place finish. Other Canadian results included Elliot Vaillancourt (20th), Gabriel Dufresne (22nd), Sam Cordell (23rd), Cole Carey (41st), and Charles Beaulieu (55th).
The women’s competition saw Maïa Schwinghammer and Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert both advancing to the big finals. The two Canadians faced each other head-to-head, with Schwinghammer edging out Desmarais-Gilbert to advance. Schwinghammer’s run ended in the next round after a hard-fought match against Kazakhstan’s Anri Kawamura Gorodko, who claimed silver after defeating reigning Olympic champion Perrine Laffont (FRA) in the semifinals. Schwinghammer continues her strong season with another top six finish, while Desmarais-Gilbert finished 16th overall. Other Canadian women included Sina Clegg (22nd), Maya Mikkelsen (24th), Jessica Linton (25th), and Florence Laroche (31st).
A Building Team Culture
“This was a strong showing for our athletes, but what stands out most is the harmony within the team,” said Todd Allison, Freestyle Canada’s High Performance Director. “Seeing our skiers work together and celebrate each other’s successes shows the strength of our culture. That camaraderie will be key as we build toward the FIS World Ski Championships in March and the 2026 Olympics.”
Allison also praised the collaborative efforts of the coaching staff. “Our coaches are working as a unified team, tailoring plans for each athlete and helping them succeed in their own way. That individualized approach is making a big difference,” he said.
With a foundation of mutual support and teamwork, Team Canada continues to balance individual excellence with collective achievement, setting the standard in Freestyle Skiing.
Kauf Reigns Supreme in Women’s Dual Moguls
On the women’s side, Jaelin Kauf (USA) claimed her second Dual Moguls win of the season with smooth, aggressive skiing. Kazakhstan’s Gorodko took silver, reaching her first World Cup podium after defeating Laffont (FRA) in the semifinals. Laffont finished third, while Olivia Giaccio (USA) took fourth.
As the World Cup tour shifts to Deer Valley, Utah, Team Canada aims to build on this momentum and keep their podium streak alive.
This keeps Kingsbury’s quotes intact while tightening up the rest for readability and sharper focus on the Canadian athletes. Let me know what you think!
