Kingsbury carves history, Giaccio shatters boundaries at Deer Valley
Feb 02, 2024·Freestyle
The Intermountain Healthcare FIS Freestyle moguls World Cup at Deer Valley Resort (USA) launched with a flourish, as Olivia Giaccio (USA) and Mikael Kingsbury (CAN) dominated the opening day, marking the start of an exhilarating three-day event with landmark victories.
The nighttime event at Deer Valley drew a large audience, poised at the foot of the iconic Champion Run, all anticipating a spectacular showdown. The course, known for its formidable challenges, was set to test the mettle of the world's premier moguls skiers on Thursday.
In the women's competition, Olivia Giaccio delivered a commanding performance on Champion Run, achieving the second win of her career. The event saw an unexpected turn when the favored Jakara Anthony (AUS) was eliminated in the first round of finals, allowing Giaccio to advance and ultimately set a new standard with her flawless turns and a stunning 1080 off the final jump. Advancing to the super final, Giaccio replicated her exceptional performance, enhancing it further to elevate her score to 75.42 points. This victory marked a historic moment, as it was the first time a women's run that included a 1080 clinched the top spot on the podium at Champion Run in Deer Valley.
Jaelin Kauf secured the second spot, notching her eighth top-3 finish of the season, while Hinako Tomitaka (JPN) broke the potential U.S. podium sweep by claiming third place, her second top-3 career finish.
The men's competition at Deer Valley's Champion Run was the stage for a monumental feat, with Mikael Kingsbury achieving his 87th World Cup victory. This victory thrust him past Ingemar Stenmark, setting a new record for the most World Cup wins by a male athlete across any FIS Olympic discipline. Kingsbury's unparalleled skill and consistency have firmly established him as the unparalleled monarch of the moguls world, further underscored by his 15th victory at Champion Run in Deer Valley.
Ikuma Horishima finished in second place, maintaining his lead in the moguls World Cup standings over Kingsbury. With just one more singles event remaining in the 2023/24 season, Horishima holds a 30-point lead over the Canadian.
Filip Gravenfors of Sweden claimed third place, elevating the Swedish team's standing on Thursday with his fifth top-3 finish in the 2023/24 season.
The FIS Freestyle World Cup excitement at Deer Valley will transition to the White Owl venue for the aerials competition on Friday, before returning to Champion Run on Saturday for the dual moguls competitions, promising more thrilling ski action.
Quick Links:
Deer Valley World Cup FIS data page (start lists, results, etc.)
