It will be a full count for the Canadians in the final of the freestyle skiing halfpipe event. Rachael Karker, Cassie Sharpe and Amy Fraser each earned their ticket to the medal round, while China’s Eileen Gu completely flew through qualifying.
Updated yesterday at 11:05 p.m.
Karker, of Guelph, Ont., had the best performance of the maple leaf representatives. The 24-year-old skier placed 2and qualifying, with a second run earning her 89.50 points.
Cassie Sharpe, who won gold for Canada in this event at the 2018 Pyeonchang Games, placed sixth. We retained his first mark of 86.25 points.
PHOTO BEN STANSALL, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Cassie Sharpe
It was tighter for Amy Fraser. Of the 20 skiers who participated in the qualifications, only the first 12 advanced to the final. After his two runs, the Calgary athlete ranked 11and, with a retained mark of 75.75 points. No other competitor was going to be able to take her place.
PHOTO BY DYLAN MARTINEZ, REUTERS
Amy Fraser
What was not in doubt was the presence in the final of Eileen Gu. The star of the Beijing Olympics dominated her opponents, with runs of 93.75 and 95.50 points.
“The halfpipe is absolutely incredible,” commented the Chinese in the finish area. I love the way it was built. […] I feel very good. I have a lot of fun and that’s really all that matters in this sport. »
“In halfpipe, the bigger you send the better, I love it,” she added.
But she concedes that she is still beginning to feel the weight of the series of events. Gu won gold in the long jump and silver in the slopestyle.
“I’m very tired, but I wrote last night (Wednesday) in my diary, to convince myself otherwise, that I was still fresh and motivated and it worked,” she said.
The final will take place at 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday night.
With Agence France-Presse