High Medal Potential for Canadian Freestylers
The Canadian Freestyle Ski Association and Ski Cross Canada will send a deep and talented team of mogul skiers, aerialists and ski cross racers to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
The two organizations will jointly nominate 18 athletes to the Canadian Olympic Committee at a news conference here later today.
Ski Cross CEO Cam Bailey said his organization is thrilled to have such a talented group of athletes to represent Canada at the Games for Ski Cross’s Olympic debut.
The Canadian freestyle contingent to the Games has 10 men and eight women and representatives for all six Freestyle Olympic events. Bailey said as a group, freestyle presents some of the strongest medal hopefuls of the Games. However, the limited number of spots available means some proven potential medalists will be left at home.
CFSA CEO Peter Judge said: “We’re elated to be sending such a strong team overall with significant medal chances, but we’re also saddened to be leaving athletes who have won World Cup medals in the last 14 months, like Ski Cross Racers Davey Barr and Aleisha Cline as well as Aerialist Ryan Blais, at home. This underscores the fact that Freestyle should be entitled to more Olympic spots.”
“Nevertheless, the Freestyle athletes who will don the maple leaf in Vancouver next month have a real chance to help Canada own the podium this time around,” added Judge.
Leading the charge for Canada is mogul skier Jenn Heil, who won Olympic gold in Torino. She will be accompanied by World Champions Alex Bilodeau (Moguls) and Ashleigh McIvor (Ski Cross) as well as last year’s FIS World Cup champion, aerialist Steve Omischl.
This contingent of athletes will be complemented by a group of other experienced contenders who bring a history of World Cup podium performances and who proved their mettle over the last two competitive seasons in order to meet the rigorous qualification criteria.
The team includes experienced Olympians and rookies from across the country.
Freestyle athletes nominated to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games
Moguls:
Chloé Dufour-Lapointe, Montreal
Jenn Heil – Spruce Grove, Alta. now living in Montreal
Kristi Richards, Summerland, B.C.
Alex Bilodeau, Rosemère, Que.
Maxime Gingras, St-Hippolyte, Que.
Vincent Marquis, Quebec City
Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau, Drummondville, Que.
Aerials:
Veronika Bauer, Toronto
Kyle Nissen, Calgary
Steve Omischl, North Bay, Ont.
Warren Shouldice, Calgary
Ski Cross:
Ashleigh McIvor, Whistler, B.C.
Julia Murray, Whistler, BC
Danielle Poleschuk, Winnipeg
Kelsey Serwa, Kelowna, B.C.
Christopher Del Bosco, Vail, Colorado
David Duncan, London, Ont.
Stan Hayer, Calgary
