A pair of Squamish residents started 2013 in a positive way at the FIS World Cup freestyle ski competition in Colorado on Friday (Jan. 11).
Quest University student Roz Groenewoud picked up a silver medal in the women’s ski halfpipe event, scoring a 79.2 in the women’s final. Groenewoud was tied for third place after qualification rounds on Jan. 9 and then cruised to the second-place finish on Friday.
“Very happy to end up second at the Copper WC after a week of tears and a day of snow/wind,” she tweeted.
Groenewoud was teammates with the late Sarah Burke and this past Thursday (Jan. 10) marked the one-year anniversary of the accident that ultimately led to Burke’s death. Several members of the team marked the sombre occasion and dedicated their performances to Burke’s memory.
New Squamish resident Mike Riddle also had a strong showing in Colorado, picking up the gold in the men’s competition on Friday. Riddle snuck into the finals and was ranked 12th after the qualifying rounds but scored a 90.2 and 91.2 on his final runs to win the men’s competition.
“Stoked to take the win at the US grandprix @CopperMtn,” he tweeted.
Riddle and Groenewoud will next travel to Aspen, Colo. to compete in the Winter X Games starting on Jan. 24. For more information and complete results from the event, visit www.fis-ski.com.
