Moguls update: Bryon Wilson qualifies third
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The most surprising news was not that Canadian-born Australian freestyle skier Dale Begg-Smith had an average qualifying run in the men’s moguls event Sunday, or that the top American qualifier happened to be Bryon Wilson, and not Patrick Deneen.
(Or that I’m determined to eat chili every single night at the Cypress Mountain press venue. Except when they run out.)
No, the true upset was a surprise visitor: the sun.
It was a cool but sun-splashed afternoon on the mountain, a welcome change from the heavy rain and wind of Saturday, a bone-chilling experience at the compelling women’s moguls final.
The snowboard cross riders, unable to train Saturday, were pleased with the turn in weather conditions.
‘Amazing what a little sunlight will do for the course, and for the soul,’ said Nate Holland of the United States, one of the top medal contenders in snowboard cross. ‘...The most challenging part [Sunday] was dealing with the soft snow.’
All four Americans qualified for the moguls final: Wilson (third), Deneen (10th), Nathan Roberts (16th) and Michael Morse (19th). Wilson had two second-place finishes earlier this season in World Cup action.
Guilbaut Colas of France, Alexandre Bilodeau of Canada, Wilson and defending Olympic champion Begg-Smith are the top four qualifiers.
--Lisa Dillman, from West Vancouver, Canada
