FREESTYLE
World Cup Deer Valley SkiRacing.com FEBRUARY 13, 2012 | 29
Best in the
BUMPS
Hannah Kearney hasn’t lost in a year — but she’s
as hungry for wins as ever By Eric Williams
PARK CITY, UTAH — Hannah Kearney stood at the top of the brilliantly lit Champion moguls
course in Deer Valley with the burn of four competition runs in her legs and the cheers of more than
3,000 fans in her ears.
A year ago, the 25-year-old Olympic gold medalist skied away from the same slope disappointed with
silver and bronze medals at the 2011 World Championships. But on Feb. 5, Kearney got the Deer Val-
ley duals monkey off her back with a record 14th consecutive World Cup win.
“It felt good to win on the course that Jenn Heil beat me on last year,” said Kearney a day after telling
reporters she was after “redemption” in the arrival press conference.
Midway through the 2012 season, it’s hard to remember there was a day that someone could beat
Kearney. Aside from the hiccup at the World Championships, Kearney was last toppled on a World
Cup course in mid-January of last season.
Kearney says she avoids thinking about the streak when she is skiing. “It’s not really helpful to be
thinking about the last 13 competitions when I’m about to compete,” she says. “Those wins don’t have
anything to do with it at that point.”
This season, Kearney’s 10th on the World Cup tour, has been like none other. Her longtime chief rival,
Canadian Jennifer Heil, retired after taking both gold medals (duals and singles) at last year’s World
Champs, leaving Kearney one less heavy hitter with whom to contend.
“She had been on the World Cup circuit every year that I’ve been around, so I knew it was going to
feel different,” said Kearney.
SARAH BRUNSON/U. S. SKI TEAM
Hannah Kearney secured her 13 and 14th consecutive World Cup wins in Deer Valley.
