Vernon’s Justin Dorey spun, flipped and stomped his way down Canada Olympic Park’s halfpipe to lead a Canadian sweep of the podium in FIS World Cup men’s ski halfpipe in Calgary.
Dorey, 25, recorded a two-run score of 87.20 for his first ever FIS World Cup victory. He topped his friend and teammate, Calgary’s Noah Bowman, who earned an 84.40. Third place went to Matt Margetts of Penticton (82.60).
While he has yet to be officially named to Team Canada for the 2014 Winter Olympics, Feb. 7-23, in Sochi, Russia, Dorey’s recent performances make him a frontrunner. He placed fourth at the U.S. Grand Prix last month in Colorado.
“Winning today allows me to change my priorities for the rest of the season,” Dorey told the Canadian Freestyle Ski Assocation. “Now, it’s all about revving it up for my Sochi run… and winning this event, standing beside my best friends, is the best feeling ever.”
Added halfpipe coach Trennon Paynter: “The fact that we had four out of the top five guys today means that these Canadian guys are killing it.”
In the women’s competition, after qualifying first, Calgary’s Megan Gunning ended up fourth position with a 76.80. Keltie Hansen, also of Calgary, was eighth (69.40).
