Tahoe’s Kashima returning to top form after last year’s injury

By Freddy Perryman, U.S. Ski Team

MERIBEL, France – Hannah Kearney of Vermont and Patrick Deneen of Washington kept the overall World Cup lead Wednesday with strong second place finishes in Meribel. Bryon Wilson of Montana rounded out the men’s podium in third.

This is the first time the U.S. has had two athletes in yellow at the same time since 2007 when Shannon Bahrke of Tahoe City and Nate Roberts of Park City wore the yellow jersey together.

Deneen was edged out by France’s Guilbaut Colas, earning his 10th World Cup victory, in the finals 18-17. Deneen was first across the line, but Colas had better air and turns to take the win.

Good news for the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team Wednesday also came from Sho Kashima of Stateline who finished 20th. After a season ending injury last year, Kashima is recovering ahead of schedule.

“He’s doing great” says U.S. Moguls Coach Garth Hager. “He’s right in the mix, back to his old air plan and performing well.”

On Dec. 17, the FIS Freestyle World Cup is making its first moguls stop in China.

Official results, FIS Freestyle World Cup, Maribel, France, Dual Moguls

Men

1. Guilbaut Colas, France

2. Patrick Deneen, Cle Elum, WA

3. Bryon Wilson, Butte, MT

4. Sergey Volkov, Russia

5. Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada

–

9. Jeremy Cota, Carrabassett Valley, ME

17. Joe Discoe, Telluride, CO

20. Sho Kashima, Lake Tahoe, CA

21. Jimmy Discoe, Ridgway, CO

–

40. David Digravio, Farmington, ME

Women

1. Yulia Galysheva, Kazakhstan

2. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT

3. Justine Dufor-Lapointe, Canada

4. Ekaterina Stolyarova. Russia

5. Regina Rakhimova, Russia

–

12. Heather McPhie, Bozeman, MT

18. Laurel Shanley, Squaw Valley, CA

–

DNS: Heidi Kloser, Vail, CO

DNF: Eliza Outtrim, Steamboat Springs, CO