Gagnon makes history, freestylers & Maltais dominate

January 13, 2014

By Asif Hossain

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It was another big weekend for Canadian winter athletes taking part in international competition in the lead up to Sochi 2014. Let’s get right to it.

Gagnon makes history

In one of five gold medal winning performances from Canadians on the weekend,Marie-Michèle Gagnon made history in Austria when she won World Cup gold in a super-combined event, becoming the first Canadian skier ever to do so.

Gagnon was 16^th after the super giant slalom portion but more than made up for it in the slalom run to finish ahead of Austrian Michaela Kirchgasser and Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany.

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One of my biggest dream has come true, I WON a World Cup yesterday in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria!!!!!!!! #anotherbestday #redbibwhat?????!! Relentless hard work, patience, consistency and self belief has finally paid off, I'm ecstatic, stoked and fired up for some more of those days!!!

A post shared by Marie-Michèle Gagnon (@mmgagnon) on Jan 13, 2014 at 1:00am PST

Dorey takes overall title, Riddle finds podium twice

In Breckenridge, Colorado, freestyle halfpipe skier Justin Dorey finished sixth in the men’s event over the weekend, but earned enough points to secure the title of FIS World Cup Champion for 2013/14.

In the same race Mike Riddle secured a silver medal. He landed another podium place, this time alongside Dorey, for finishing third overall in the halfpipe this season.

Bilodeau & Kingsbury trade wins

Freestyle moguls skiers Mikael Kingsbury and Alex Bilodeau took turns winning two World Cup events in Deer Valley, Utah over the weekend.

On Thursday, Canada swept the podium with Kingsbury leading Bilodeau and Marc-Antoine Gagnon in the men’s event. That same night Chloe Dufour-Lapointe was second and her sister Justine was third in the women’s moguls.

In the second event on Saturday, Bilodeau beat Kingsbury for a 1-2 Canadian punch in the men’s race, and a different Dufour-Lapointe – Maxime – was third among women. It was her first World Cup podium.

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First carreer podium with a BRONZE in Deer Valley !! How amazing is it to be rewarded for my hard work !! I'm having the Time of my Life and i Will keep looking for more !! I am so greatfull to my epic coaches, my sisters, parents, generous sponsors who always have believed in me and the great Canadian team staff: it's all about team work ! Thank you everyone for all the love and support ! (Photo crédit : Steve Omischl) #saputo #bronze #firstpodium #hartskis #lekipole #ogc #teamcanada #teamoakley #oakley #oberson #roadtosotchi #cfsa #ec3d #3sdl

A post shared by Maxime Dufour-Lapointe (@maximedufourlapointe) on Jan 11, 2014 at 9:56pm PST

Double podium for dominant Dominique

Dominique Maltais won a pair of snowboard cross World Cup medals in Andorra over the weekend. On Saturday, she won the gold medal and followed it up with a second place finish the next day.

Maltais is the overall standings leader going into a nearly two-month break in the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup.

READ: Magical Maltais dominates in Andorra

Sliding success in St. Moritz

Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse showed the bobsleigh world that they are poised to defend their Olympic title in Sochi. The duo were in 10^th place following their opening run in St. Moritz, but a strong push in the second outing took them to the top for World Cup gold.

READ: Humphries & Moyse golden in St. Moritz

In skeleton, John Fairbairn won a bronze medal on Sunday – his first career World Cup podium finish – after sliding to sixth place two days earlier.