Feel-good wins for Wallberg, Kauf in season’s first Dual Moguls World Cup

After a wait that spanned almost a month, Dual Moguls finally got its long anticipated start of the 2024/25 FIS Freestyle World Cup season in Bakuriani. 

But for the world’s best skiers, there was no easing into things. The 280-metre Kokhta course – the longest on tour – and its deep, demanding mounds posed a high level of difficulty. 

Walter Wallberg (SWE) and Jaelin Kauf (USA) found the speed and consistency necessary to last till the end, each of them taking wins in the men’s and women’s event respectively. 

Down with a cold, but Wallberg finds hot form

For Wallberg, just producing the stamina required for Dual Moguls was a grind, given the Swede was feeling under the weather. 

But he prevailed in the big final, taking a 20 to 15 victory over Benjamin Cavet (FRA). 

Said the 2022 Olympic champion: “It was a good day. I got a cold a couple of days ago, so I've been struggling with the altitude and this long course. But I took it run by run today and just tried to ski fast. 

“This is what I've been training for all summer – doing intervals. My legs are done, I’m out of breath. It was a tough one today, but now I’m feeling good.” 

For Cavet, Bakuriani continues to be a happy hunting ground. His second place finish comes a day after he won in the Moguls. 

Filip Gravenfors (SWE) completed the men’s podium in third place. The 20-year-old edged out Mikael Kingsbury (CAN) in the quarterfinals. 

The Swedish team celebrated a good day in the office, with three athletes among the top five in the men’s Dual Moguls.  

Dominant Kauf shows Dual Moguls quality 

In the women’s Dual Moguls, Kauf threw down a gutsy run to beat Rino Yanagimoto (JPN) with a 24 to 11 result. 

Kauf, the 2022 Olympic silver medallist, has a reputation for being one of the fastest down a course. Her speedy skis are clearly an asset in this event: this was Kauf’s ninth World Cup win, and her sixth in Dual Moguls.

Speaking on her strategy to go fast, the 28-year-old said: “That was the play today – to get out in front, and stay out in front. Anastassiya Gorodko (KAZ) gave me a run for my money earlier, but I laid down solid runs all day, and I’m super excited that I'm on top of the podium. 

“I’m going to try to hang on to that yellow bib this year.”

Meanwhile, Bakuriani carries special meaning for Yanagimoto. It was here that she was last on a World Cup podium. She was second in Moguls last season, but suffered a bad injury after a crash at the Deer Valley stop. 

Perrine Laffont (FRA), competing in her first Dual Moguls competition in 21 months, took third place. 

The World Cup season will now take a short break over the holidays. The circuit will resume after the new year, with the first Aerials World Cup taking place in Lake Placid on 18-19 January 2025, while the Moguls World Cup will next move to Waterville on 24-25 January 2025.