Freestyle Whistler alumni headlined a solid month of moguls competition on the Nor-Am Cup circuit earlier this year. Maya Mikkelsen, who is also a Whistler native, skied to a silver medal in dual moguls at Deer Valley, Utah from Feb. 8 to 9 for her first Nor-Am podium. The Team BC member also placed ninth in singles.
"So stoked to finish the week with a ninth in singles and to share my first Nor-Am podium in duals with [Freestyle Alberta athlete] Quinn Dawson!" wrote Mikkelsen on her Instagram account after the event.
Fellow Freestyle Whistler product Jessica Linton settled for fourth in singles and 11th in dual moguls in Deer Valley, gaining valuable experience as a member of the Canadian National Development Team. Lynnette Conn from Squamish finished sixth in the dual event.
From Jan. 21 to 22, Sea to Sky skiers put their skills on display closer to home in Apex Mountain, BC. Sam Cordell, another Freestyle Whistler alum and National Development Team member, reached the podium with his silver-medal effort in singles.
Linton was fourth, Conn ninth and Mikkelsen 13th on the women's side of that competition.
Nor-Am Cup performances are vital for freestyle skiers who hope to establish themselves at an elite level, for it is the qualifying series that leads directly to the FIS World Cup circuit. Some of these young athletes could one day help fill the boots of Canadian moguls legend Mikael Kingsbury, who recently won the 113th World Cup medal of his tremendous career.
