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9 December 2016 года

Moguls season gets underway in Ruka

The long-awaited moguls World Cup season 2016/2017 gets underway this Saturday with ‘’Freestyle Opening Ruka” serving as the season opener for the seventh consecutive year.

All eyes will once again be on Mikeal Kingsbury (CAN), who claimed his 29th career victory in Ruka last year as he broke the record for the most career men's moguls wins previously held, for more than 20 years, by French legend Edgar Grospiron. Inspired by his great achievement Kingsbury kept on going in 2015/16, easily claiming his 5th consecutive Crystal Globe at the end of the season. With five victories and two second-places last year, Kingsbury is clearly a big-time favourite for the win in Ruka.

“I worked on a few things this summer. If I do the runs I am capable of doing, and if I am at my best, I will put myself in a good position to win every day,” Kingsbury explained ahead of the season opener.

Matt Graham (AUS) and Ben Cavet (FRA), who challenged Kinsbruy at every turn last year and finished the season on second and third place respectively, will be looking to match if not to beat Kingsbury’s speed, technique and trick arsenal. Add also to the mix the likes of Philippe Marquise (CAN), Ludvig Fjallstrom (SWE) and host nation representative Jimi Salonen and suddenly we’re looking at the field not only willing but also very capable of taking chances for the top spot.

Last but not least Bradley Wilson could be well seen as an underdog coming into Saturday’s individual competition. Returning at the end of the last season, after almost two years off while battling the injury, he claimed a victory at Tazawako and scored two more top-10s results before season end. Sometimes you can’t mess with good old experience and Wilson for sure has plenty of that.

Things get even more interesting in the ladies’ competition. 2015/2016 number one and two, Canadian sisters Chloe and Justine Dufour-Lapointe, will be both looking to start the season with a bang, which could directly results in another epic, back-and-forth family battle for the Crystal Globe.

Chloe will be looking to repeat the consistency from last year that brought her to top of the rankings at the end of the season ."I'm going to focus on the details I worked on at each training camp, and I will continue to perfect my jumps throughout the winter,” says the Canadian skier.

The rest of the Canadian team is also looking very strong with Andi Naude, Audrey Robichaud and Maxime Dufour-Lapointe all ready to make an impact this season.

Then we have Perrine Laffont (FRA), who finished right behind Chloe and Justine in just her third World Cup season. The 18-year-old skier is certainly fired up by her last season’s performance, and she will be looking to upset the Canadian team and keep her winning streak from the 2015/16 season finale in Moscow alive.

Finally let's not discredit last year’s winner from Ruka, Mikaela Matthews (USA), as well as Yulia Galysheva (KAZ) and the experienced Deborah Scanzio (SUI), who are all able to surprise the favorites and take home the precious win.

The Ruka World Cup will start withe the qualifications starting at 2.10 pm local time (1.10 pm CET). The finals are scheduled for 7.40 pm local time (6.40 pm CET).

LIVE TV BROADCAST:

EUROSPORT (Livestream on EUROSPORT PLAYER)

CBC - Canada (Livestream available HERE)

CCTV- ChIna

YLE TV2 - Finland (Livestream available HERE)

SFR 3 - France

JSPORTS - Japan

CBC - USA (Livestream available HERE)

LINKS:

Ruka World Cup Competition Program

2016/17 FIS Freestyle Skiing moguls World Cup preview

2016/17 FIS Freestyle Skiing moguls World Cup schedule