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Canada’s dominance in mogul skiing was on full display this past weekend at Val St. Côme, where Mikaël Kingsbury and Maia Schwinghammer delivered unforgettable performances, marking a historic moment for the nation’s freestyle ski team. Schwinghammer claimed her first-ever World Cup victory, while Kingsbury extended his already legendary career with a record-extending 95th career World Cup win on Friday, followed by an astonishing 96th victory on Saturday in dual moguls.
A Breakthrough for Maia Schwinghammer
The 23-year-old Schwinghammer made history by becoming the first Canadian woman to win a World Cup moguls event on home soil since Justine Dufour-Lapointe’s victory in 2018. In front of an electric home crowd, she laid down an incredible run, scoring 80.07 in the women’s big final to take the win. Her performance wasn’t just a personal triumph but a defining moment for Canada’s next generation of freestyle skiers.
“Wow, first (win) in front of a home crowd, I can’t believe it. I’m so happy,” Schwinghammer said. “Just to be able to improve on my runs as I went throughout the day – I’m so happy with my skiing and how far we’ve come as a team.”
After placing third in Sweden’s Idre Fjäll event in December, this victory signals that Schwinghammer is ready to step up as a consistent podium threat.
Kingsbury’s Reign Continues
On the men’s side, Mikaël Kingsbury once again proved why he is the greatest mogul skier of all time. The 32-year-old legend dominated the competition, scoring 87.42 points in Friday’s moguls event before securing another commanding win in Saturday’s dual moguls. His latest victories push his career total to a staggering 96 World Cup wins, further cementing his untouchable legacy in the sport.
“I want to say a big congrats to Maia. It was super cool being at the top and knowing we had a good opportunity,” Kingsbury said. “I’m super stoked about my skiing tonight, and what a night to be a Canadian.”
Dropping into the moguls course as the final skier, Kingsbury soaked in the energy of the roaring Val St. Côme crowd.
“It feels amazing, and it’s pretty silent up there, so the crowd is the only thing you can hear,” Kingsbury said. “When you’re dropping last at Val St. Côme, it’s quite special.”
A Weekend to Remember
Beyond Kingsbury and Schwinghammer’s victories, Julien Viel made his own statement, capturing his first-ever medal in a single mogul event, taking silver with 80.56 points. His performance was even more remarkable given that he had been sick all night leading up to the event.
With strong performances across the board, including Elliot Vaillancourt, Sam Cordell, Gabriel Dufresne, and Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert, Canada’s freestyle moguls team demonstrated the strength of their program.
Looking Ahead
With Kingsbury continuing his reign and Schwinghammer making her mark, the Canadian moguls team is proving to be an international powerhouse. This weekend’s triumphs at Val St. Côme set the stage for an exhilarating season ahead, as Canada’s best continue their charge toward more podiums on the World Cup circuit.
What a weekend for Canada. What a statement for the sport. And what a moment to celebrate two Canadian stars at the top of their game.
