If Jennifer Heil isn't on the World Cup freestyle podium, she's comfortable knowing she's paved the way for another Canadian in line.
In only her second World Cup start, 16-year-old Justine Dufour-Lapointe posted a bronze-medal finish in a dual mogul competition at Meribel, France.
"I'm really stoked, I actually can't quite believe it right now because it came so fast," said Dufour-Lapointe.
It was a pleasing sight for the veteran Heil, a two-time Olympic medalist and five-time World Cup Crystal Globe winner.
"You watch some of the other countries and they don't have anyone coming along. We do, and Justine's one of them," said Heil. She was on the podium at the moguls debut last weekend. Heil, whose home base is Montreal, was sixth Wednesday. She's chasing another world title but she also wants the youngsters behind her to know podiums are possible.
Dufour-Lapointe felt at home.
"I think I did so well because the course looked a lot like what I'm used to in Quebec, icy and small moguls," she said. "So, I just fought really hard and did my best."
The course had frozen to blue ice after three days of rain and a flash freeze. A dusting of snow mildly improved conditions, but the difficulties remained.
Cedric Rochon of Saint-Sauveur, Que., was eighth, Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau of Drummondville, Que., was 12th, Philippe Marquis of Quebec City was 14th and Mikael Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que., was 16th.
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