US Fairs Well in World Cup Freestyle Events

Livigno, Italy, Mar. 17–American Joe Pack (Park City, UT) finishedsecond with a score of 244.82 to hold onto third in the final World Cupmogul standings. American Brenda Petzold was a career-best fifth.Nicolas Fontaine of Canada won the men’s eventand season title; teammate Veronica Brenner won the event with AustrianJacqui Cooper taking the season crown.

The finish secured Pack’s best World Cup season ever, moving from sixtha year ago to third.

Swirling winds made the jumping extremely difficult for a number ofcompetitors. Fontaine waited approximately over three minutes for thewind to settle before he took off for his second jump. It was worth thewait as he nailed a quad twisting triple and won the eventwith a score of 250.57.

“Sometimes I screw up and go too soon,” said Fontaine. “This morning Isaid to myself-tonight I’m just going to wait for the best wind formyself-and it worked for me.”

Pack didn’t seem to be bothered as much by the difficult conditions.

“The wind really didn’t bother me tonight,” said Pack. “I train in itall the time. I’m really happy with my season — I never finished lowerthan sixth.”

Britt Swartley (Blue Bell, PA), in third place after his first jump, hada slow takeoff in his second jump against a strong head wind. He flippedupon landing, pushing him back to fourth.

Reigning world and World Cup champion Jacqui Cooper of Australia slappedback on her second jump Friday night and that gave the final World Cupaerials meet of the season to Canadian Veronica Brenner. Petzold(Andover, MA), with the best result of her career, finished fifth.

Brenner finished with 195.32 points – one of the second highest pointstotal in history – with Alla Tsuper, Belarus second at 186.74. AlisaCamplin of Australia placed third with a score of 175.79. Cooper, thefirst-round leader, finished fourth with 174.86 Fifth place went toPetzold with a score of 172.30.

Cooper, who had won four World Cup meets this season, already clinchedher second consecutive World Cup title with her third-place result.

World Junior Champion Ryan St. Onge (Winter Park, CO) was mostimpressive finishing ninth — despite being limited to double flips. St.Onge, 17, was in just his third World Cup aerial event, scoring thehighest mark of his career. He will be able to move up to triple flips,the staple jump on the World Cup tour, when he turns 18 next season.

World Cup Final, Fri. Mar. 17, 2000

Livigno, Italy

Men’s Freestyle Aerials

1. Nicolas Fontaine, CAN, 250.57
2. Joe Pack, Park City, UT, 244.82
3. Alexei Grichin, BLR, 219.97
4. Britt Swartley, Blue Bell, PA, 218.89
5. Ales Valenta, CZE, 211.71
6. Steve Omischl, CAN, 202.64
7. Dmitri Dashinski, BLR, 201.51
8. David Belhumeur, CAN, 201.46
9. Ryan St. Onge, Winte Park, CO, 199.32
10. Christian Rijavec, AUT, 196.25

Final World Cup Standings

Men’s Aerials

1. Nicolas Fontaine, CAN, 476
2. Alexei Grichin, BLR, 468
3. Joe Pack, Park City, UT, 456
4. Steve Omischl, CAN, 428
5. Dmitri Dashinski, BLR, 420
6. Christian Rijavec, AUT, 404
7. David Belhumeur, CAN, 392
8. Ales Valenta, CZE, 392
9. Britt Swartley, Blue Bell, PA, 376
10. Kyle Nissen, CAN, 336

Other Top U.S. Standings

11. Jerry Grossi, Park City, UT, 256
12. Erc Bergoust, Park City, UT, 216
14. Brian Currutt, Park City, UT, 212
15. Mariano Ferrario, Park City, UT, 208
32. Ryan St. Onge, Winter Park, CO, 28
33. Parker Schmidt, Steamboat Springs, CO, 24
35. Matt Chojnacki, Aurora, CO, 16

Women’s Freestyle Aerials

1. Veronica Brenner, CAN, 195.32
2. Alla Tsuper, BLR, 186.74
3. Alisa Camplin, AUS, 175.79
4. Jacqui Cooper, AUS, 174.86
5. Brenda Petzold, Andover, MA, 172.30
6. Tatyana Kozachenko, UKR, 170.46
7. Eelyne Leu, SUI, 162.96
8. Nannan XU, CHN, 156.71
9. Kelly Hilliman, Tonawanda, NY, 152.19
10. Hilde Synnove, NOR, 150.98

Final World Cup Standings

Women’s Aerials

1. Jacqui Cooper, AUS, 4888
2. Veronica Brenner, CAN, 476
3. Hilde Synnove LID, NOR 432
4. Alla Tsuper, BLR, 428
5. Evelyne Leu, SUI, 420
6. Alisa Camplin, AUS, 412
7. Veronika Bauer, CAN, 400
8. Brenda Petzold, Andover, MA, 364
9. Nannan XU, CHN, 356
10. Kelly Hilliman, Tonawanda, NY, 336

Other U.S. Standings

18. Emily Cook, Salt Lake City, UT, 168
21. Marrissa Berman, Mt. Kisco, NY, 140
26. Kate Reed, Montrose, CO, 44