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In Final Olympic Qualifying Events, Voisin in Tight Contention For Sochi

By Beacon Staff

It’s down to the final two events for Olympic hopeful Maggie Voisin. The 15-year-old Whitefish skier is among five high-ranking athletes vying for four spots on the first-ever U.S. Freeskiing Olympic Team.

The final qualifying events are Jan. 17-18 in Park City, Utah. After that, Mike Jankowksi, head coach of the U.S. Freeskiing team, will select the best riders based on their top two finishes. He told ESPN he plans on bringing four female competitors in the slopestyle event to Sochi, Russia, for the Winter Games.

Voisin is tied for third with two others in the official slopestyle standings. She’s tallied 140 points along with Missoula’s Darian Stevens and Grete Eliassen. Keri Herman sits in second place with 160 points and Devin Logan is ranked first with 180. Logan is the lone skier to achieve the minimum two podium finishes necessary for team eligibility.

Voisin has already achieved one podium finish and needs to land as high on the podium as possible at both events to clinch a spot on the Olympic team.

Last week she opted out of the third Olympic qualifying event in Breckenridge, reportedly due to lingering soreness. She was the top-ranked rider at the time. The Grand Prix Freeskiing event was eventually canceled because of heavy snow and results from the qualifying round counted as the final results, giving Herman the victory. Logan earned third.

That leaves this week’s final two events in Park City to determine who’s going to Sochi. The events are scheduled to be broadcast on NBC or NBCSN. Live coverage will also be available on DewTour.com and Grand Prix with the USSA Network on YouTube.

The Beacon has followed Voisin since she was a rising star at the age of 13. Here’s a breakdown of stories written about her competing from Whitefish:

Voisin Opts Out of Olympic Qualifying Event Whitefish freeskier has two remaining events to qualify for the Olympics

Flathead Living: Freeskiing Phenom Maggie Voisin is the youngest skier on the U.S. Freeskiing Slopestyle Team

Voisin Lands on Podium at Olympic Qualifying Event Whitefish freeskier places third on her 15th birthday to brighten her Olympic prospects

Whitefish’s Voisin Soars to First in Freeski Event Qualifying Round Whitefish teen phenom edges closer to Olympics with qualifier

Maggie Voisin at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Beacon file photo

ESPN Names Whitefish’s Voisin Slopestyle ‘Rookie of the Year’ Voisin is entering the winter as a rising contender for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia

Voisin Wins Slopestyle World Championships Whitefish 14-year-old takes a big step toward her dream of X Games and Olympics

Voisin Wins Second Straight Slopestyle National Championship Voisin defended her national slopestyle title at the 2013 Junior Championships

Slopestyle Stardom Thirteen-year-old Maggie Voisin wins national title, keeps climbing ranks

Big Mountain Freeride Whitefish Mountain Resort ski and snowboard freestyle team gears up for another season