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Begg-Smith Still On A Roll At Final Stop Before The Games
Jan 22, 2010 / 04:01:50 PM
Dale blitzing the course in Lake Placid. Image - Getty Images
With his stock standard rock solid performance Dale Begg-Smith again lands on the podium for a silver medal in Lake Placid, USA. Week after week Begg-Smith has been able to tailor his skills to suit any course thrown at him and that's why he's currently ranked number one in the world by a healthy 143 point margin. Lake Placid is the final mogul World Cup before Vancouver and Guilbaut Colas of France enjoyed back to back wins, looking primed for the Olympics while Sweden's Jesper Bjoernlund got back on the podium with a third, the first time since his double World Cup victory earlier in the season at Suomu, Finland. Also keeping the pressure on is Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau finishing in forth. Unfortunately for the US men their best performer was back in fifth place. USA's Michael Morse is currently ranked sixth in the world but has yet to place in the top three this season. With Australia's Ramone Cooper sidelined due to injury the next best Aussie skier was Sam Hall in 39th position.
Lake Placid place getters, Dale Begg Smith, Guilbaut Colas and Jesper Bjoernlund. Image - Garth Hager
With all the results posted and everything having been said, no one is looking statistically more able to take the day in Vancouver than Australia's own Dale Begg-Smith. No one in the sports history has been able to win back to back gold and now that unique opportunity lies with Dale.
Colas on his way to first place at Lake Placid
The number one ranked mogul skier, Canada's Jennifer Heil decided to give the Lake Placid event a miss and the US women seized the opportunity shutting out the competition by taking places first through forth. With Hannah Kearney, Shannon Bahrke, Heather McPhie and Michelle Roark, the US women's team is providing plenty for the Canadian mogul camp to be concerned about. Lake Placid is the last World Cup mogul stop before the Games and the feeling the athletes take away from this event can go a long way to provide the confidence required to be on their best for the Olympics come 22 February.
Women's place getters; Shannon Bahrke, Hannah Kearney, Heather McPhie
For complete results click here
David Digravio from the USA takes a tumble in Lake Placid
http://www.skidebosses.com/2010/video/2010-cm07-lp-2H-dale.wmv
tags: photos, photo, olympic, dale, begg, smith, ramone, cooper, sam, hall, moguls, world, cup, lake, placid
