Australia’s aerial skiing double world champion Laura Peel has surged back into winning form, claiming her first World Cup victory of the season with a standout performance at Lac-Beauport.
After finishing 23rd on day one, Peel produced a powerful response, landing a series of her trademark triple back somersaults to secure the 15th World Cup win of her career and her fourth victory at the Lac-Beauport venue.
Peel qualified for the final in eighth place with a double full-full double somersault scoring 81.78 points, joined by teammate Airleigh Frigo, who impressed with a career-best 87.25 to qualify fourth. Also advancing to her first World Cup final was Sidney Stephens, finishing 12th with a score of 76.85 for her lay-full jump.
In the opening round of finals, Peel soared to the top-six super-final with a lay-full-full triple back somersault, earning 106.74 points. Frigo narrowly missed advancing in seventh place with 84.73 points, while Stephens achieved a personal best, finishing 11th on 72.29 points.
In the super-final, all three podium finishers delivered the challenging full-full-full triple twisting back somersault. Peel led the way with a big score of 113.76 points, followed by American Winter Vinecki in second on 109.90, with China’s Xu Mengtao third on 97.02.
“I don’t know if we’ve had three full-full-full’s on the podium before,” said the 36-year-old from Canberra.
“It feels really good to be back. I’m really happy with that jump, with my jumping all day. Yesterday wasn’t really my day, and I’m really stoked to come back today with that.
“It’s epic to see women out there doing the big tricks, because we can. It’s great fun.
Also in action for Australia in Lac-Beauport was Abbey Willcox, who narrowly missed finals by one place in 13th and Danielle Scott was 20th, while in the men’s event, Reilly Flanagan also finished 20th.
The World Cup tour now heads to Lake Placid, USA, for a double event on January 11–12, which will serve as the final Olympic qualification competitions in aerial skiing.
