MOSCOW — Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury has thoroughly dominated World Cup moguls all season long, and on Saturday he was rewarded with a record-fifth consecutive Crystal Globe as the overall champion.
Chloe Dufour-Lapointe won her first Crystal Globe, marking the first time Canada has claimed both the men’s and women’s trophies.
Kingsbury finished the World Cup season in fitting fashion, winning the dual moguls event Saturday. And afterward, the 23-year-old from Deux-Montagnes, Que., reflected on his remarkable campaign.
"It was my goal this season to win a fifth Crystal Globe. It was a pretty great season and I only missed the podium once," Kingsbury said. "I’m proud that I won more than half the World Cups this season. It was a shorter season for us, so I really made a point to be consistent every competition.
"I’m heading in the right direction with my skiing and I’m excited for the world championships next year and the Olympic Games the year after that."
Kingsbury finished with 705 points to win the overall title, easily beating Matt Graham of Australia and Benjamin Cavet of France, who both finished with 378 points.
Kingsbury beat Cavet on Saturday to claim a whopping 33rd World Cup victory. Philippe Marquis of Quebec City was third.
"It was a different feeling entering this competition without much pressure knowing that I had already clinched the Crystal Globe," Kingsbury said. "I was pushed hard by the other skiers though and really gave it my all each time and especially against Cavet in the finals. Overall I’m pretty happy with my day and to walk away with this title."
Andi Naude of Penticton, B.C., was second in the women’s dual moguls behind Perrine Laffont of France.
Dufour-Lapointe, a 24-year-old from Montreal, scored 494 points on the season to win the Crystal Globe ahead of sister Justine Dufour-Lapointe, who scored 471.
"I feel like I reached the goal that I had at the beginning of the season and that was to be consistent throughout the year," Chloe said. "That’s what you need to do to win the Crystal Globe and I am extremely proud of myself. I really gave it my all at every single competition this season and only missed the podium twice.
"I’m going to work even harder in the off-season to work on the little things, but I will also take the time to really appreciate this moment."
Although the other freestyle skiing disciplines haven’t completed their World Cup seasons, Kingsbury’s victory all but assures him the overall freestyle Crystal Globe for a fifth straight year — a feat that has never been accomplished on the men’s side.