In a preview of next weekend's Visa Freestyle International World Cup in Park City, UT, Canada's Sarah Burke took titles in the X Games ski superpipe in Aspen. Virtually the entire X Games field, and more, will take part in the historic World Cup next Saturday in a preview to the 2011 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships scheduled for Park City's Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort.
Burke, who has been dominant in the FIS World Cup, edged American Jen Hudak (Park City, UT) 93.33-92.66 in Friday's X Games matchup. Jess Cumming (Wilton, CT), who was on the podium in the opening World Cup, was third.
The ski halfpipe, now in its fourth season as a World Cup event, will make its North American debut in the superpipe at Park City Mountain Resort. It is expected to attract the strongest field ever in the history of the World Cup.
"The X Games was a good preview of what fans will see in the World Cup," said event spokesperson Calum Clark. "The Visa Freestyle International has always been a showcase on the World Cup circuit. This is a great opportunity to have an expanded field of the top riders in the world here in Park City."
The Visa Freestyle International is being hosted by Deer Valley Resort, with aerials, moguls and dual moguls on the Olympic venues at Deer Valley. The ski halfpipe competition will be held in the 22-foot superpipe at nearby Park City Mountain Resort.
"This is a great partnership between Deer Valley Resort and Park City to utilize both world class venues," said Clark. "It's an opportunity to test the venues prior to the 2011 World Championships here."
Ski halfpipe, while not yet an Olympic event, is rapidly gaining popularity through stars like Bertoni, Burke, Hudak, and Dumont.
Fans can watch the stars perform in the World Cup finals scheduled for 12:30-1:30 p.m. Saturday at Park City Mountain Resort.
