Quebec native Julien Viel clinched his inaugural World Cup championship on Saturday by securing victory in the men’s dual moguls event at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup held on home turf. Despite finishing around 1.5 seconds slower than his Japanese rival Ikuma Horishima, Viel emerged triumphant with a score of 20-15, showcasing adept control and composure during his performance. The third spot was claimed by Sweden’s Filip Gravenfors, who outperformed Finland’s Olli Penttala.
Viel, aged 24, admitted to opting for a cautious approach due to the challenging conditions, emphasizing the importance of avoiding injuries. Reflecting on his strategy, he expressed contentment with his performance, stating, “I struck a balance between pushing myself adequately and not overdoing it, which has left me very pleased.”
Throughout the competition, Viel received enthusiastic support from the audience in Val St-Côme, Quebec, with resounding cheers erupting when his winning score was announced. Grateful for the fervent backing, Viel acknowledged the crowd’s influence, noting that their encouragement provided a motivating boost before his runs.
The Canadian dominance extended as Mikaël Kingsbury secured the gold in the moguls event, marking his 100th World Cup triumph, while Charles Beaulieu earned eighth place in the men’s dual moguls. Notably, Viel’s victory ensured both the men’s moguls and men’s dual moguls titles were claimed by Canadians.
On the women’s side, the United States asserted dominance by occupying the top four positions, with Jaelin Kauf emerging victorious with a score of 23, surpassing silver medallist Elizabeth Lemley. Tess Johnson completed the U.S. podium sweep, finishing ahead of Olivia Giaccio. Canadian representation in the top 10 was limited to Maïa Schwinghamme in seventh place and Jessica Linton in eighth place.