Laura Peel claims bronze in World Cup aerial opener in China
Published Mon 23 Dec 2019
Courtsey of www.owia.org
Australian aerial skier Laura Peel has claimed a bronze medal at the 2019/2020 World Cup season opener at Shimao Lotus Mountain in China.
The VIS athlete performed her first ever triple back somersaults in competition with great success, scoring 87.92 points in the first round of finals with a lay-tuck-full, and 86.65 in the medal round with a full-tuck-full.
In taking bronze, the performance marks the tenth World Cup podium of the 30 year old athletes career (2 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze).
“It’s an amazing start to the season. Competing with triples at a World Cup was a big milestone of mine, and to come away with a podium makes it even sweeter.”
“The conditions were really good. We all took a couple of days to adjust to a much steeper landing hill than what we had been training on in Finland, but the sun was out and there was minimal wind which made conditions great for jumping.”
Peel finished narrowly behind Belarus aerialist Aliaksandra Ramanousk 93.44 and China’s Mengtao Xu scoring 105.53 with the judges.
For Peel there’s a busy season ahead after a short Christmas break.
“After tomorrow, I’m looking forward to enjoying some R&R over Christmas. Then my team start training again in Switzerland in January ahead of the next World Cup in Moscow, Russia.”
Also in action for Australia was Abbey Willcox, who finished in 14th place, just missing the 12 woman final.
A second World Cup event also took place at Shimao Lotus Mountain, with a one jump competition being held on day two, before a team World Cup event that Australia did not feature in.
Peel landed another triple back somersault, a lay-tuck-full, narrowly missing the podium by less than a point in fourth place.
Abbey Willcox had a personal best World Cup finish of 12th.
The next event for Australia's aerial skiing athletes will be in Moscow, Russia, on January 25.