Canada’s Sharpe takes silver in halfpipe at freestyle world championships

PARK CITY, Utah – Canadian Cassie Sharpe narrowly missed capturing her first ski halfpipe world championship title, settling for second place on Saturday behind Estonia’s Kelly Sildaru.

Sharpe, the reigning Olympic champion from Comox, B.C., scored 94.40 points on her first of three runs and held the top score in the eight-woman field through the second run.

But the 16-year-old Sildaru nailed a massive 95-point run on her third trip down the halfpipe to overtake Sharpe’s top score. Sharpe, the last rider down, bobbled her final run to hand Sildaru the title.

American Brita Sigourney was third with 90.60 points.

Rachel Karker of Erin, Ont., competing in her first world championships, finished fourth with 85.20 points.

On the men’s side, Calgary’s Noah Bowman had a stellar 91.60-point third run to sneak onto the podium in third place, bumping Simon D’Artois of Whistler, B.C., to fourth.

American Aaron Blunck won gold with 94.20 points and Kevin Rolland of France took silver with 93.80.