STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO (Dec. 23) - The snow falling on Steamboat's Voo Doo run couldn't hold back World Champion Patrick Deneen (Cle Elum, WA) and World Cup moguls champion Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT) on Wednesday as each won Olympic Trials, securing a nomination to the U.S. Olympic Team in the moguls discipline.

"This is the only golden ticket, and to have it means the world to me," Kearney said. "It felt like a winning run when I crossed the finish line."

Though it was nearly whiteout conditions into the final run of competition, Kearney nailed a back layout and flat helicopter, combined with an extremely clean run for the win.

"It may have been slower than some of the other competitors, but it was clean and I still skied aggressively," Kearney said. "There was no way I was going to lose by skiing too conservatively. I pushed it and I am really pleased."

According to the World Championship bronze medalist, having secured a spot on the Olympic team will enable her to relax, as well as push herself further in the sport to get to where she wants to be in Vancouver - the top of the podium.

"It's going to make the rest of the year less stressful, and to go into the Olympics as un-stressed as possible is going to give me an advantage," Kearney said. "I'm going there to win a gold medal. I'm not going there to 'experience it.' I already did experience it and there's a lot of things I'm going to do differently for a much better result."

Kearney was followed in second by Colorado native Emiko Torito (Denver) who, although disappointed in not winning, was happy with her progress and where she is headed this season.

"A win would have been better than a second, but I think this is the right direction to go to the Olympics. I think I can keep improving to make that goal of an Olympicp podium," Torito said. "That's my goal this year - to go as big as I can. My goal is to be faster and go bigger than any girl on the mountain. I feel like I accomplished that and skied a good run with a lot of pressure."

For Deneen, the win is a relief that cleared away the stress of a slow season start.

"I've been skiing really well all week here, so I was happy I was able to lay it down," Deneen said. "I had a really rough go at the beginning of this season, so it's really nice to put my run down twice and be rewarded for it from the judges."

Deneen laid down a back lay and a cork 7, as well as a nearly flawlessly executed line on the run, to win the event. With the Vancouver not, the young gun is excited to be headed to the Games along with his teammates in the sport.

"It's really exciting to be going to the Olympics, especially with all your friends," Deneen said. "Cypress is a beautiful place. I can't wait to ski there. I'm really excited for winning here."

Like Kearney, Deneen also noted that the weight off his shoulders thanks to the win will be beneficial to him in the coming months.

"It gives me the chance to do whatever I want out there," Deneen said.

Right on Deneen's tail was U.S. Ski Team newcomer Jeremy Cota (Carrabassett Valley, ME) who had the crowd on their toes for a darkhorse victory as he sat in the lead until Deneen's final run.

"That's freestyle skiing for you, a lot of close calls. I skied as well as I could and I am definitely happy with that," Cota said. It's a little heartbreaking, but I'll get over it. I was happy to be there. I skied really well and I was obviously in there somewhere and I'm happy with that."

With three of the five Olympic team spots already nominated, two more remain to be given out Thursday when men's and women's aerials take over the action on Voo Doo run.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2010 Olympic Trials
Steamboat Springs, CO - Dec. 23, 2009
Moguls

Men
1. Patrick Deneen, Cle Elum, WA, 26.68
2. Jeremy Cota, Steamboat Springs, CO, 26.11
3. Holt Haga, Boise, ID, 26.06
4. Shane Cordeau, Sun Valley, ID, 25.92
5. Sho Kashima, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 25.90
6. Jimmy Discoe, Ridgway, CO, 25.81
7. Dave DiGravio, Farmington, ME, 25.53
8. Michael Morse, Duxbury, MA, 25.39
9. David Babic, Washington, VT, 24.88
10. Joe Discoe, Ridgway, CO, 24.86

Women
1. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT, 26.30
2. Emiko Torito, Denver, 25.96
3. Shannon Bahrke, Tahoe City, CA, 25.37
4. Michelle Roark, Denver, 25.34
5. Shelley Robertson, Reno, NV, 24.58
6. Heather McPhie, Park City, UT, 24.09
7. Eliza Outtrim, Steamboat Springs, CO, 23.56
8. Heidi Kloser, Vail, CO, 23.28
9.  Laurel Shanley, Squaw Valley, CA, 23.15
10. Mikaela Matthews, Frisco, CO, 13.11
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