Kashima 8th in World Cup freestyle competition

By Freddy Perryman, U.S. Ski Team

MONT GABRIEL, Quebec City – Jeremy Cota of Maine led the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team with a career best fourth place finish in Saturday’s dual moguls World Cup at Mont Gabriel. Olympic champion Hannah Kearney of Vermont remains on top of the women’s overall World Cup standings.

Cota, who qualified in fifth, won his first round before having to go head-to-head with teammate and reigning world champion Patrick Deneen of Washington in the quarterfinals.

Olympic bronze medalist Bryon Wilson ofButte, Mont., placed seventh and Sho Kashima of Stateline finished eighth.

World Cup freestyle skiing is heading stateside Jan. 22-23, where Lake Placid, N.Y., will play host the Nature Valley Freestyle Cup which includes two men’s and women’s moguls events.