FIS Moguls World Cup competition kicks off in Bakuriani

The fourth Moguls World Cup competition of the 2023-2024 season of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation has kicked off at the Kokhta Mount track of Georgia’s ski resort of Bakuriani.

The Ministry of Economy of Georgia on Friday said the tournament was being broadcast live in 17 countries, with the events starting at 9:30am local time with the women’s qualifiers, followed by the men’s qualifiers at 11:15am and culminating in the finals at 1:30pm.

Saturday will follow a similar format, starting with preliminary rounds at 11am and finals once again at 1:30pm.

The Ministry said 90 athletes from 16 countries were featured in the competition. 

Irakli Burchuladze, the Director of the Mountain Trails Agency of Georgia, said the spotlight athletes for the contest were the current World Cup leaders - Australia’s Jakara Anthony and Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury, who dominate the moguls standings. 

He added Kingsbury was taking to the Kokhta moguls course as the reigning double World Champion from past competition on the track.

Meanwhile, Anthony, having experienced less success at this venue last year, is determined to redeem herself and solidify her top spot on the World Cup ranking”, he added.

The official also highlighted the women’s event and its headlining competitors - Japan’s Rino Yanagimoto and Olivia Giaccio of the United States, the latter leading a strong US team with six athletes in the World Cup top 10.

During the 2024 winter season the stages of the World Cup will be hosted in the Georgian resort of Gudauri for snowboard cross between February 3-4, before the ski cross event is run in Bakuriani between February 10-11.