Brendan Mackay and Rachael Karker win World Cup halfpipe skiing medals in California

Brendan Mackay (Sebastien Berthiaume, Freestyle Canada)

Brendan Mackay of Calgary, Alberta, and Canadian Olympic bronze medalist Rachael Karker of Guelph, Ontario won medals on Friday in a halfpipe skiing World Cup at Mammoth Mountain, California. Mackay won a silver medal in the men’s halfpipe skiing event, and Karker, who won a bronze medal in women’s halfpipe skiing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, won a bronze medal in the women’s halfpipe event.

Mackay posted a score of 93 points. Birk Irving of the United States won the gold medal with 94 points. David Wise of the United States won the bronze medal with 91.25 points. Mackay reached the podium by eight points over Tristan Feinberg of the United States, who was in fourth place with 85 points.

Karker posted a score of 91.75 points. Kexin Zhang of China won the gold medal with 93.5 points. Zoe Atkin of Great Britain won the silver medal with 92.75 points. Karker reached the podium by 4.5 points over fellow Canadian Amy Fraser of Halifax, Nova Scotia, who had 87.25 points.

In the men’s World Cup halfpipe skiing standings, Mackay finished second with 272 points. Irving was the World Cup champion with 320 points. In the women’s World Cup half standings, Karker was the World Cup champion for 2022-23 with 320 points. Fraser was second with 216 points. The World Cup medals on Friday will give Karker and Mackay confidence as they prepare for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo. 

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