RUKA, FINLAND – Freestyle skier Aiko Uemura made a bright start to the season on Saturday, finishing third in women’s dual moguls in the opening event of the World Cup series.
Uemura lost in the semifinals but beat Nikola Sudova of the Czech Republic to grab third spot. Compatriot Miki Ito lost in the first round and was 12th.
“This gives me confidence,” said Uemura, who after taking a break following the 2010 Vancouver Olympics returned to the World Cup circuit in the middle of last season.
“I performed better than I expected to. I want to get stronger,” she said.