Laffont and Horishima shine in Chiesa in Valmalenco

A hugely successful showcase of world’s best mogul skiing went down at “Dosso” course in Chiesa in Valmalenco (ITA) on Saturday, as Perrine Laffont (FRA) and Ikuma Horishima (JPN) reached for top spots in a hugely entertaining dual moguls competition that acted as the penultimate stop of the 2022/23 FIS Freestyle Ski Moguls World Cup season and final test ahead of the upcoming Bakuriani 2023 World Championships in Georgia.

Coming into Valmalenco’s event straight off her first win of the season in Deer Valley last week, Laffont didn’t disappoint and delivered a superb performance throughout the day. With some of her biggest rivals for the dual moguls as well as the overall moguls crystal globe struggling on this difficult course in Chiesa, Laffont remained calm, cool and in control throughout the day, keeping her turns tidy, her speed up and her tricks clean.

In the big final Laffont was matched against the up-and-comer Elizabeth Lemley (USA), who also showed very impressive skiing on the day including a very exciting semi final matchup against the current dual moguls World Cup leader Anri Kawamura (JPN). But in the big final Lemley couldn’t quite stick her run and after she hit the brakes just a couple of meters ahead of the bottom jump, it was pretty clear that she wouldn’t challenge Laffont for top spot on Saturday.

By winning the event in Valmalenco, Laffont moved atop the dual moguls as well as overall moguls World Cup standing and with only two more competitions remaining in the 2022/23, it all looks like the 2018 Olympic Champion from Korea might be on her way to claim two crystal globes once the season wraps up in Almaty (KAZ) in the middle of March.