Skip to main content

Roz Groenewoud of the Canadian Freestyle Ski team takes a break from training at Whistler-Blackcomb in Whistler, British Columbia on January 2, 2013.The Globe and Mail

Canadian Roz Groenewoud put her new knees to the test on Friday.

Groenewoud earned a total score of 85.66 to win silver in women's ski superpipe at the Winter X Games, her first competition since she had surgery on both of her knees in December.

"I'm really happy with the progress I've made," said Groenewoud. "This is I think my fifth day skiing pipe since double-knee surgery so I'm super-happy with how it's progressed."

American Maddie Bowman was first with 88.66 points in the eight-woman event, while France's Marie Martinod was third with 82.33.

Groenewoud, from Squamish, B.C., will represent Canada in halfpipe skiing at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and is getting her knees ready for the rigours of competition.

"They definitely started to feel a little bit sore toward my last competition run," said Groenewoud. "I'm glad that I'm done for the day and I can go put them on ice.

"Every day they're feeling better. They're adapting to skiing halfpipe."

The Winter X Games are Groenewoud's last competition before the Olympics. The 24-year-old will briefly return home before heading to France for the Olympic freestyle ski team's pre-Olympics training camp.

"I'm looking forward to getting to work on some of my harder tricks in our upcoming pre-Olympic camp," said Groenewoud. "Hopefully I'll be doing some of those in Sochi."

Rehabilitating her knees will be an ongoing concern for Groenewoud, as her legs have to recover while she gets herself into peak shape for the halfpipe competition.

"I had this very naive notion that the rehab process was over as soon as I got back on the snow," she said. "I quickly learned that I will be taking care of my body intensely probably all the way through Sochi."

Later in the day in men's competition, Mike Riddle of Sherwood Park, Alta. finished fourth in the ski superpipe with a best run of 84.33.

American David Wise won gold with a score of 92.00, Kevin Rolland of France took silver at 88.66 and American Alex Ferreira rounded out the podium with a score of 85.33.

Interact with The Globe