Rachael Karker aces first Dew Tour; Cassie Sharpe claims silver
Freestyle Canada – Breckenridge, CO, December 14, 2018– Rachael Karker might be skiing in her first official season with Canada’s World Cup team, but her newbie status didn’t keep her from soaring to the top of the leaderboard at the Dew Tour. The Ontario athlete got her best score of the day on her third run (87.33), just a few points higher than her second attempt.
The eight skiers participating in today’s event were facing a modified halfpipe with slopestyle features at the top and halfway point. Karker fared well against her more seasoned rivals, who included many Olympic and X Games medallists. “I didn’t really have any expectations today, I just wanted to do well. It took me awhile to get used to this modified pipe and I’m happy to have been able to do two runs like those,” said the 21-year-old skier, who gave the judges the elements they were looking for: height and grabs. Karker had to wait until the very end to savour her gold medal win as her teammate Cassie Sharpe was the last athlete in the lineup. “I really wanted her to do well on her last run, and she did. To be able to ski as well as her, Devan Logan and Brita Sigourney is a great achievement for me.”
Olympic champion Cassie Sharpe, meanwhile, pronounced herself pleased with her third run. “I told myself to go with what I know, go back to my basic stuff and I’m happy that it worked.” Sharpe had fallen in her first attempt, scored 69 in her second, and ended the day with 84.67, which earned her the silver medal.
Recall that Cassie Sharpe won the Dew Tour last year so Canada gets to keep its crown.
For more information about the event, visit the website at www.dewtour.com
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