Star freestyle skier Mikaël Kingsbury opted out of the men’s small final during the World Cup moguls season opener on Sunday. Despite securing the fourth position in the qualification round, his name was missing from the small final start list. Kingsbury, hailing from Deux-Montagnes, Que., revealed in a pre-event press briefing that he has been managing a groin injury.
As Canada gears up for the Milan Cortina Winter Games where dual moguls will be introduced for the first time, Kingsbury stands out as a key contender for medals. Notably, he clinched the gold in standard moguls at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, in addition to silver medals in 2014 and 2022. The event witnessed another round of moguls competition scheduled for Monday.
Meanwhile, the women’s event saw Saskatoon’s Maïa Schwinghammer as the lone Canadian progressing to either big final, securing the fifth spot.