Canada’s Dara Howell wins World Cup big air finale; Cressey, Harle claim bronze

QUEBEC – Dara Howell topped the podium in her first ever big air competition Saturday at the final World Cup stop of the season.

Howell, from Huntsville, Ont., finished with 175 points, one more than Italy’s Silvia Bertagna.

Megan Cressey of Red Deer, Alta., was third with 152.8 points.

“I just wanted to come out, do my 10, do my switch-right 7, and wherever that put me it was going to put me,” said Howell, who won Olympic gold in slopestyle at the 2014 Sochi Games. “This is my first big air contest so I’m happy to walk away with the win.”

Canada also picked up a medal in men’s competition, as Teal Harle of Campbell River, B.C., finished third with 182 points.

Norway’s Christian Nummedal was first with 189 points, followed by Sweden’s Hugo Burvall with 182.4.

Kim Lamarre of Lac-Beauport, Que., who was also making her FIS big air debut, was injured in training before the women’s final when she broke her left clavicle in a nasty fall.