This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Deer Valley • Redemption was right there for Emily Cook.
All she had to do was land her second jump in the women's aerials competition at the FIS Freestyle World Championships at Deer Valley on Friday night, and the longtime Park City resident would finally be able to forget about all the disappointments that have darkened her long career.
The lost seasons.
The spoiled Olympics.
All the injuries.
But the woman who has responded to each of her setbacks throughout the years with a smile and buoyant resolve just couldn't make it happen.
With the home crowd roaring for her to win her first world title, Cook made a "little mistake" in executing her difficult back double full-full, fell back against the hill on the landing and instantly plummeted from champion-in-waiting to seventh-place finisher.
"I was cheering as loud as I possibly could," close friend and fourth-place finisher Ashley Caldwell said, fighting to stay composed as she glanced back at where Cook had stumbled. "I really wanted her to win."
Instead, Cheng Shuang of China won the women's event with 188.40 points, while Canada's Warren Shouldice won the men's — defending world champion Ryan St. Onge didn't reach the final — by executing a perfect jump on his last attempt and scoring 253.66 points.
Earlier in the day, fellow Canadians Chris DelBosco and Kelsey Serwa swept the ski-cross events.
Cook had never won a world championships medal — she was fourth in the last world meet two years ago — watched the 2002 Salt Lake Games from a wheelchair and missed two full seasons because of injuries. She missed the final of the 2006 Turin Games and battled heel problems through her 11th-place finish at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
Who knows if she will get another chance?
She's 32 years old and uncertain whether she will compete beyond this season. Cook took an extended break from training last summer to help coach the U.S. Ski Team's freestyle development program, and she had targeted the world championships after missing them because of injuries the last time they were held at Deer Valley in 2003.
"I wish I could do it forever," she said, "but we'll see."
Cook had qualified first through the two qualifying jumps, and had the best score after the first jump in the final.
But she "pulled my feet in a little bit when I should have been stretching" during her second jump, forcing her to fall back on the landing and watch opportunity skitter away once more.
"I wasn't willing to back down and do a smaller trick. I was out there to win, and I gave it my all. That's all I can do," Cook said.
Friday's results
At Deer Valley Resort
Men's aerials
Gold • Warren Shouldice, Canada — 253.66
Silver • Qi Guangpu, China — 250.95
Bronze • Anton Kushnir, Belarus — 249.63
Women's aerials
Gold • Cheng Shuang, China — 188.40
Silver • Xu Mengtao, China — 188.23
Bronze • Olga Volkova, Ukraine — 178.59
Women's ski cross
Gold • Kelsey Serwa, Canada
Silver • Julia Murray, Canada
Bronze • Anna Holmlund, Sweden
Men's ski cross
Gold • Chris DelBosco, Canada
Silver • Jouni Pellinen, Finland
Bronze • Andreas Matt, Austria