Courtenay freestyle skier Dillan Glennie took a step towards Olympic qualification by placing 11th at a recent World Cup event in Colorado.
The 21-year-old was the third best Canadian woman in halfpipe at the competition, Dec. 10 at Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado. Fellow Courtenay skier Cassie Sharpe — the 2018 Olympic champion — was sixth. Rachael Karker of Guelph, Ont. was second.
It was the first of four qualifying events for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, China. Calgary hosts the next two events, and the final competition is at Mammoth Mountain in California.
Glennie said Karker is the only Canadian halfpipe woman to secure an Olympic spot so far, though Sharpe “should be able to qualify no problem.” There are four spots up for grabs.
“I am excited to see what happens, and keep having fun and skiing this season,” said Glennie, 21, who is on the national C team, also known as the NextGen team. “Going to the 2022 Olympics would be a major plus, but I am just going to ski my best and see where it takes me.”
READ: Courtenay skier has eye on 2022 Olympics
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Glennie’s performance in Colorado sets her up well for earning a trip to Beijing. A top 16 finish at two more events bumps her chances further, though it wouldn’t quite secure a spot. To qualify, she is competing against freestyle skiers in moguls, aerials and slopestyle, as well as halfpipe.
Glennie is home for the Christmas break. In the new year, she heads back to Calgary for the World Cup and pre-Olympic training camps.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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