Kingsbury and Bilodeau rivalry continues to build

It would surprise absolutely no one if the Olympic gold medal in freestyle moguls skiing was decided between two Canadians, Mikael Kingsbury and Alex Bilodeau.

In four events on the World Cup circuit this season, the 21-year-old Kingsbury has won three times and Bilodeau, 26, has won once. When Kingsbury has won Bilodeau has finished second and Kingsbury finished second after Bilodeau’s lone victory, which was Saturday at Deer Valley, Utah. On Thursday, Kingsbury won for the third consecutive time, also at Deer Valley, part of a Canadian sweep. Marc-Antoine Gagnon of Montreal was third.

The two are certainly pushing each other. After his first-place finish on Saturday, Bilodeau, the 2010 Olympic champion, told the Canadian Press he can accomplish more.

On the women’s side, Hannah Kearney has established herself as the front-runner. She won for the third time on the World Cup circuit Saturday, completing a sweep of the Deer Valley events. Her only loss was Jan. 4 at Calgary to Justine Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal, one of the three Dufour-Lapointe sisters competing in moguls.

Maxime, the oldest of the group, finished third on Saturday, her first medal on the World Cup tour this season. Maxime turns 24 two days after the Olympics open.