Canadian Halfpipe and Slopestyle Athletes to Compete in Snowmass, Colorado

Freestyle Canada – Snowmass, Colorado, January 9, 2018 – D-Day is fast approaching for the Canadian skiers contending for a ticket to the Olympics in PyeongChang. The FIS World Cup in Snowmass, Colorado will be an important event for Canada’s halfpipe and slopestyle athletes who are hoping for a spot at the Games. Both teams are back in competition after the Dew Tour in mid-December. Though it’s been a month since they last squared off against their compatriots, the skiers haven’t slowed their pace.
 
In the halfpipe, Cassie Sharpe will indubitably strive to sustain the momentum that took her to the top step of the podium twice since the start of the season. Veterans Mike Riddle, Noah Bowman and Simon d’Artois are also ones to watch in the upcoming contest, evidently inspired to ski their best as they’ve collected medals along the way in Cardrona and Copper Mountain.
 
Among the slopestyle athletes, Evan McEachran is having an excellent spell on the slopes, taking his first World Cup podium win in Stubai before coming within a hair of the podium once again at the Dew Tour. On the women’s side, Dara Howell finished her year in good standing, with a sixth-place showing at the Dew Tour, and will surely be determined to surpass that result.
 
Schedule overview:
 
Wednesday, January 10: men’s and women’s qualifiers – halfpipe
Thursday, January 11: men’s and women’s qualifiers – slopestyle
Friday, January 12: men’s and women’s finals – halfpipe
Saturday, January 13: men’s and women’s finals – slopestyle
Sunday, January 14: AFP men’s and women’s qualifiers and finals – slopestyle
 
Broadcast schedule
CBC Sports will broadcast the halfpipe finals on January 12 at www.cbcsports.ca starting at 3:00 PM (ET). The following day, Radio-Canada Sports and CBC Sports will air the slopestyle finals on their websites starting at 11:00 AM (ET).
 
 
The following halfpipe skiers will compete at the Snowmass World Cup:
 
Men: Mike Riddle (Sherwood Park, AB), Noah Bowman (Calgary, AB), Simon d’Artois (Whistler, BC), Brendan Mackay (Calgary, AB), Evan Marineau (Calgary, AB)
 
Ladies: Cassie Sharpe (Comox, BC), Keltie Hansen (Edmonton, AB), Megan Warrener (Sylvan Lake, AB), Rachael Karker (Erin, ON)
 
The following slopestyle skiers will compete at the Snowmass World Cup:
 
Men: Alex Bellemare (St-Boniface, QC), Evan McEachran (Oakville, ON), Teal Harle (Campbell River, BC), Patrick Dew (Prince George, C.-B.), Philippe Langevin (Mont-Tremblant, Qc), Max Moffat (Caledon, ON), Noah Morrison (Vernon, C.-B.)
 
Ladies: Dara Howell (Huntsville, ON), Yuki Tsubota (Whistler, BC), Anouk Purnelle-Faniel (Lac-Beauport, QC), Kim Lamarre (Quebec City, QC), Elena Gaskell (Vernon, BC), Sofia Tchernetsky (Whistler, C.-B.), Nikki Blackall (Barrie, ON)
 
 
Upcoming events (January)

• FIS Word Cup – January 18-19 – Mammoth – Halfpipe
• FIS Word Cup – January 19-20 – Mammoth – Slopestyle
• FIS Word Cup – January 19-20 – Lake Placid – Aerials
• FIS Word Cup – January 20 – Tremblant – Moguls
• X Games – January 25 – Aspen – Halfpipe
• X Games – January 27-28 – Aspen – Slopestyle