Kashima a distant 34 in World Cup aerials

By Elizabeth Karam, U.S. Ski Team

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Olympic champion Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT) won her third World Cup of the season at the Nature Valley Freestyle Cup in Lake Placid, NY. Jeremy Cota (Carrabassett Valley, ME) landed his first career World Cup podium in third. Kearney continues to hold the World Cup leader bib.

The Lake Placid streak for the U.S. is definitely still alive. After a successful day for the U.S. Friday with aerialists Ashley Caldwell (Charleston, SC) winning and Ryan St. Onge (Winter Park, CO), placing second, the momentum carried into Saturday’s moguls competition. The USA earned half of the top five spots, two men and three women, showing the depth of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team’s moguls skiers.

“There’s a lot of depth on our team and a lot of people stepped up,” said Moguls Head Coach Scott Rawles.

Kearney kept her own streak in motion, taking the top spot on the podium. She once again edged out 2010 Olympic silver medalist Canadian Jennifer Heil with Audrey Robichaud, also of Canada, in third.

The 2011 World Championships are scheduled for Feb. 2-5 at Deer Valley Resort and Park City.

Official results, FIS Freestyle World Cup – Nature Valley Freestyle Cup

Men

1. Colas Guilbaut, France, 25.81

2. Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada, 25.59

3. Jeremy Cota, Carrabassett Valley, ME, 25.31

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5. David DiGravio, Farmington, ME, 24.40

9. Joe Discoe, Telluride, CO, 21.85

11. Patrick Deneen, Cle Elum, WA, 20.58

12. Bryon Wilson, Butte, MT, 19.23

16. Ryan Dyer, Steamboat Springs, CO, 22.03

18. Jimmy Discoe, Ridgway, CO, 21.48

19. Jay Panther, Park City, UT, 21.45

31. Nate Roberts, Park City, UT, 18.58

34. Sho Kashima, Lake Tahoe, CA, 15.82

Women

1. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT, 25.45

2. Jennifer Heil, Canada, 24.72

3. Audrey Robichaud, Canada, 24.41

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4. Heather McPhie, Bozeman, MT, 24.23

5. Eliza Outtrim, Steamboat Springs, CO, 23.73

9. Alison DiGravio, Farmington, ME, 22.18

13. Alyssa Lawson, Boulder, CO, 20.60

14. Kayla Snyderman, Winchester, MA, 20.55

24. Brittany Loweree, Point Lookout, NY, 18.20

37. Heidi Kloser, Vail, CO, 12.51