Freestyle skier Aiko Uemura got off to a fine start to the new World Cup season with a second-place showing in the opening moguls event on Thursday. Uemura cruised into the final after placing second in the preliminary round and went on to finish behind winner Margarita Marbler of Austria with 23.51 points. Marbler earned 24.24. Compatriot Miki Ito came fourth with 23.15. Uemura had an impressive run in the final but a shaky landing on a backflip attempt in her second air maneuver cost her a first World Cup title in three seasons. "I'm glad that I got such a good result after going through a lengthy rehabilitation program that began in the spring," Uemura said. "But I need to train harder in my 'air' performances so I can't be fully satisfied with the run I had in today's final."
