Karker's gold highlights Canada's 4-medal day at freeski halfpipe World Cup at Copper Mountain

Canada stole the show at the season-opening freeski halfpipe World Cup at Copper Mountain in Colorado on Saturday, earning a double podium finish in both the women's and men's events.

Canada's Amy Fraser, Brendan Mackay, Noah Bowman also reach podium in Colorado

Three female freestyle skiers celebrate on a podium after winning medals in a women's halfpipe World Cup competition.
From left to right: silver medallist Amy Fraser of Canada, gold medallist Rachael Karker of Canada and bronze medallist Kelly Sildaru of Estonia stand on the podium after the women's freeski halfpipe World Cup event on Saturday at Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Canada stole the show at the season-opening freeski halfpipe World Cup at Copper Mountain in Colorado on Saturday, earning a double podium finish in both the women's and men's events.

Erin, Ont., native Rachael Karker captured gold in the women's event after earning a score of 89.50, finishing ahead of silver medallist Amy Fraser of Calgary (85.25).

It was Karker's second career gold medal on the World Cup circuit. The 25-year-old made her Olympic debut last February in Beijing, where she claimed halfpipe bronze.

"I'm really happy. It was our first competition since the Olympics. I'm glad to have started off the season well," Karker said.

"I wiped out in a training run just before the final, and I wasn't even sure I'd be able to compete. In the end though, I felt fine, and everything went really well."

WATCH | Karker wins freeski halfpipe gold at Copper Mountain:

Ontario's Rachael Karker claims World Cup freeski halfpipe title at Copper Mountain

2 years ago
Duration 1:24
Rachael Karker of Erin, Ont., wins the women's World Cup freeski halfpipe event with a score of 89.50.

Estonia's Kelly Sildaru rounded out the women's podium with bronze (82.00).

Dillan Glennie of Courtenay, B.C., also cracked the top five, finishing fifth with a score of 64.75.

WATCH | Fraser takes home silver in women's event:

Calgary's Amy Fraser wins World Cup freeski halfpipe silver

2 years ago
Duration 1:35
Freestyle skier Amy Fraser of Calgary finishes second in the World Cup women's halfpipe event in Colorado.

In Saturday's men's event, Calgary's Brendan Mackay (92.50) and Noah Bowman (91.00) won silver and bronze, respectively.

American Birk Irving topped the podium after finishing just ahead of Mackay with 93.75.

"I'm really happy to have had such a great day," Mackay said. "It had been ages since our last competition, and I'm proud of what I accomplished today. I had the chance to try some new tricks during my runs. Overall, it was very positive."

Simon d'Artois of Whistler, B.C., also qualified for the final, finishing 10th (35.00).

WATCH | Mackay captures silver:

Canada's Brendan Mackay just misses halfpipe gold in Copper Mountain

2 years ago
Duration 2:46
The Calgary native settled for silver after leading much of the men's freeski World Cup halfpipe event in Colorado.

The Copper Mountain event is the first of four freeski halfpipe World Cups this season.

Calgary will host a pair of competitions from Jan. 19-21, which will be followed by the final stop at Mammoth Mountain in California (Feb. 1-4).

WATCH | Bowman secures bronze medal:

Noah Bowman grabs Canada World Cup halfpipe bronze

2 years ago
Duration 2:44
The kid from Calgary made a nice comeback to reach the podium in Copper Mountain.

With files from The Canadian Press

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