Quebec’s Julien Viel clinched his maiden World Cup victory on Saturday by triumphing in the men’s dual moguls event at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup held on his home turf. Despite finishing about 1.5 seconds behind his Japanese rival Ikuma Horishima, Viel claimed the title with a score of 20-15, showcasing skill and poise in his performance.
Swedish skier Filip Gravenfors secured the third spot, surpassing Finland’s Olli Penttala in the competition. Viel attributed his success to playing it safe on the challenging course to avoid any injuries, expressing satisfaction with his strategy. The supportive crowd at Val St-Côme, Quebec, cheered loudly for Viel, boosting his morale throughout the event.
In a remarkable Canadian sweep, Mikaël Kingsbury seized gold in the moguls event on Friday, marking his 100th World Cup victory, while Charles Beaulieu claimed the eighth position in the men’s dual moguls competition. Viel acknowledged the crowd’s impact on his performance, stating that their energy propelled him down the slope.
The women’s competition saw a U.S. dominance, with Jaelin Kauf clinching the top spot with a score of 23, followed by Elizabeth Lemley in second place. Tess Johnson completed the American podium finish, edging out Olivia Giaccio. Among the Canadians, Maïa Schwinghamme secured seventh place, with Jessica Linton finishing eighth in the top 10 rankings.