Finland's Ronkainen earns win in Japan; Americans litter top 10

Finland’s Ronkainen earns win in Japan; Americans litter top 10INAWASHIRO, Japan – American Dave Babic grabbed his second World Cup fourth-place finish of the week Sunday as the freestyle moguls tour completed its swing through the Far East.

Finland’s Mikko Ronkainen won the men’s contest with 25.29 points. Babic had 24.06 while Landon Gardner finished eighth.

Shannon Bahrke led four U.S. women into the top 10, finishing fifth. Olympic champion Jennifer Heil of Canada clinched the World Cup title by winning with 26.19 points to 25.93 for Sandra Laoura of France. Bahrke received 24.82 on her run. Jillian Vogtli was sixth, Michelle Roark seventh and Hannah Kearney ninth.

Also making finals (top 16) were Emiko Torito in 15th place and newcomer Eliza Outtrim in 16th.

The moguls group will have a chance to catch its breath before finishing later this month – at World Cup Finals in Apex, B.C., and then the Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships March 23-26 at Vermont’s Killington resort.

FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
Inawashiro, JPN
March 5, 2006
(16 make finals)
Men’s Moguls
1. Mikko Ronkainen, Finland, 25.29 points
2. Kai Ozaki, Japan, 24.87
3. Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau, Canada, 24.41
4. Dave Babic, USA, 24.06
5. Jesper Bjoernlund, Sweden, 23.86

Other Americans
8. Landon Gardner, 23.38
24. David Digravio
25. Tim Preston

Women’s Moguls
1. Jennifer Heil, Canada, 26.19
2. Sandra Laoura, France, 25.93
3. Aiko Uemura, Japan, 25.56
4. Nikola Sudova, Czech Republic, 25.48
5. Shannon Bahrke, 24.82

Other Americans:
6. Jillian Vogtli 24.81
7. Michelle Roark 24.79
9. Hannah Kearney 24.20
15. Emiko Torito 20.98
16. Eliza Outtrim 14.52
20. Shelly Robertson

USSA