Canada’s Mackay, Sharpe reach World Cup podium in freestyle ski halfpipe

Two Canadian skiers made their mark on the World Cup podium in the freestyle halfpipe event this past Saturday. Brendan Mackay, hailing from Calgary, secured a silver medal in the men’s competition at Copper Mountain. He finished just behind the victor, Alex Ferreira of the United States, and ahead of American Nick Goepper who claimed third place.

Mackay’s strong performance at Copper Mountain adds to his impressive season so far, having previously won the season-opening halfpipe in New Zealand and placing fourth in China in early December. As a result, Mackay currently holds the second spot in the men’s season standings, trailing only behind Ferreira.

On the women’s side, Cassie Sharpe of Comox, B.C. clinched the third spot in the competition, with gold going to Eileen Gu of China and silver to Zoe Atkins of Britain. Sharpe, a two-time Olympic medalist with a gold in 2018 and a silver in 2022, marked her return to competition after taking two seasons off to start a family with her husband and fellow freestyle skier, Justin Dorey.

In a tight competition where only 1.5 points separated the top three finishers, Sharpe’s score of 89.00 on her second run was enough to secure the bronze medal. This podium finish at Copper Mountain was Sharpe’s first top-three result of the season, showcasing her continued prowess in the sport.

Eileen Gu, who had previously beaten Sharpe for gold in Beijing, celebrated her 17th World Cup victory. In a gracious display of sportsmanship, Gu expressed her happiness for all the competitors, particularly giving a shoutout to Sharpe for her impressive performance.

The thrilling action at Copper Mountain highlighted the talent and skill of Canadian skiers Mackay and Sharpe, as they continue to shine on the international stage. Fans can look forward to more exciting competitions as the World Cup season progresses.