The first of back-to-back moguls World Cup competitions in Tazawako (JPN) is in the books, with Perrine Laffont (FRA) claiming her first World Cup podium for the ladies and Bradley Wilson (USA) returning from an extended injury layoff to take top spot for the men.
Last time we saw World Cup moguls competition was back in early February in Deer Valley (USA), and after that three week break from the action, the moguls World Cup was once again in full swing with the single moguls competition kicking off with the big weekend program in Japan.
On the ladies’ side Perrine Laffont scored her first podium of the season and the first win of her career, while also moving up to the third spot in the overall moguls World Cup standing. Laffont sits within striking distance of leader Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN) and her second-overall sister Chloe, leaving the race for the yellow bib wide open with two more competitions to go.
Laffont showed great consistency in her skiing during the day, coming with the second highest score in the qualifications, before stepping it up again in the super final
“I tried to stay focused and show my best skiing," said Laffont, "I did well on the course and jumps and ended up winning. It is my first podium and the first victory of the season for me so it just feel amazing.”
Chloe Dufour-Lapointe (CAN) finished the day in the second spot to close the gap on her sister Justine in the overall standings to only 22 points.
Audrey Robichaud (CAN) rounded out the ladies’ podium, making it also a special day for her as she repeated her performance from last year while also making it onto the podium for the first time this season.
In the men’s competition it was Brad Wilson who made a spectacular comeback to the World Cup tour with a big win in his first competition since December 2014.
“I didn’t get any sleep last night," Wilson said after the competition, "I was almost more nervous than my very first World Cup back in 2011. To put down the first run to my feet and make the finals was a weight off my shoulders. Since I qualified 15th, I just laid it all out on the line and I was able to put it together.”
Wilson, a 2014 Olympian, suffered a knee injury at the World Cup opener in Ruka, Finland in December 2014. With the help of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team coaches and medical staff, he spent the last year rehabbing and preparing for his return to the World Cup circuit. Now Wilson is back in the game
“My finals run was some of the best skiing I’ve ever done," a thrilled Wilson continued, "It felt really, really good. I was on top of it, I was going fast. When I got up to the top for my super finals run, it got colder and overcast and made it a little slick. I knew what I needed to do to keep my speed down if I needed to. After I hit my top air and nailed my back full, I just let it run. I kind of lost control for a second, but was able to bring it right back in.”
Moguls World Cup leader Mikael Kingsbury (CAN) finished the competition in second place, with Matt Graham (AUS) following up on third.
In the overall moguls ranking Kingsbury continues to sit comfortably in the lead with 505 points - a more than 150 points advantage over Graham.
Skiers will wrap up the weekend in Tazawako on Sunday, Feb. 28 with the men’s and women’s dual moguls competition. The action kicks off at 11.35 local time (3.35 CET).
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Source: fis-ski.com
