Skip to content

Sylvan Lake skier wins bronze at World Cup

Megan Cressey, 18, won bronze at her first World Cup competition last weekend
11235948_web1_180330-RDA-Sylvan-Lake-Skier1
Sylvan Lake’s Megan Cressey (left) celebrates with fellow Canadian Dara Howell after winning bronze and gold medals, respectively, in the big air event at the freestyle skiing World Cup season finale in Quebec City last weekend. (Contributed photo)

Sylvan Lake skier Megan Cressey jumped her way to a podium finish in her very first World Cup competition.

Cressey, 18, won a bronze medal in the big air event at the freestyle skiing World Cup season finale in Quebec City last weekend.

“The whole experience was just breathtaking,” Cressey said. “Knowing it was my first World Cup and that I skied my best and ended up on the podium was amazing.”

The Grade 12 H.J. Cody School student said she did not expect to take home a medal.

“I’ve had a tough season. I had fallen in the last two competitions I needed to get results in, so I just wanted to land my tricks to boost my confidence,” said Cressey.

It felt surreal standing at the top of the hill before her jumps, she said.

“It was insane. We were so high up we could see everywhere and there were so many people there,” she said. “Honestly I thought it would make me nervous, but when I got there I was so psyched.”

Cressey said she has received a ton of messages from friends and family in Sylvan Lake.

“It’s so warming that I’m getting all these messages from my little hometown – it’s amazing to have all the support,” she said.

Cressey’s 152.80 score was only topped by Canada’s Dara Howell (175.00) and Italy’s Silvia Bertagna (174.00).

Sharing the podium with Howell was special, said Cressey.

“She won the gold medal (at the 2014 Winter Olympics) in Sochi so it was really cool to be next to her,” said Cressey.

Cressey, who also won the Canada Cup this season, said there is a lot more she wants to achieve in her skiing career.

“The four-year plan is to compete in the Olympics.

“Next year, I’m hoping to have a full-time World Cup spot – this one was just in Canada and I hope to travel around the world and compete,” she said.

Cressey has skied since Grade 4; competitively since Grade 6. Every time she skis, she falls more in love with the sport, she said.

“Everyone is just so much fun to ski with. We get stoked for each other when we land new tricks. But I also love that it’s an individual sport. We train as a team, but when I compete I’m on my own,” she said.

Cressey said she wouldn’t be where she is today without her coach Rex Thomas.



sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

11235948_web1_180330-RDA-Sylvan-Lake-Skier2
Sylvan Lake’s Megan Cressey stands at the top of the hill at the freestyle skiing World Cup big air final in Quebec City last weekend, where she won a bronze medal. (Contributed photo)


Sean McIntosh

About the Author: Sean McIntosh

Sean joined the Red Deer Advocate team in the summer of 2017. Originally from Ontario, he worked in a small town of 2,000 in Saskatchewan for seven months before coming to Central Alberta.
Read more