Canadian freestyler skier Karker earns World Cup halfpipe bronze at Calgary’s Snow Rodeo [Video]

The race to win the women’s freestyle ski halfpipe Crystal Globe went down to the wire on Saturday night at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

With defending champion Eileen Gu not competing in Calgary due to an injury, fellow Chinese skier Li Fanghui won gold with a run of 90.50 points to finish in a tie for the season-long points title with Zoe Atkin of Great Britain.

“I knew I could win the gold medal,” said Fanghui after her clutch performance under the lights on WinSport’s superpipe on an extremely cold night. “I’m so happy. Thank you to Calgary. It’s so cold. I’m so excited.”

Atkin claimed the silver medal Saturday and a share of the Crystal Globe with Fanghui thanks to her best run of 87.75 points.

Rachel Karker of Guelph, Ont., saved her best for her third and final run on Saturday to edge out Cassie Sharpe …