Aerial Team soars into the record books

Courtesy www.owia.org

The winter wonderland weekend continued with a flurry of stellar results in the Aerial Skiing World Cup in China today, just a day after Danielle Scott claimed Silver in the opening event of the season. 

The Flying Kangaroos, led once again by the in-form Scott, added three more medals to their weekend tally, with Scott winning the one-jump World Cup event, while Samantha Wells snared Bronze.

The event, which leaves Scott sitting equal first in the World Cup standings, was won and done before the two girls combined with Dave Morris, fresh off a 5th place effort in the one-jump event, to grab another Bronze medal in the Team World Cup, the first medal of any kind obtained by an Australian Aerial Skiing team.

After Gold and Bronze with Belle Brockhoff and Alex Pullin, the VIS athletes have capped off what has been the most successful December on record for Australian winter athletes with the third World Cup win of the season to go along with a collection of podium finishes.

Scott’s second career win today put her at the top of the pile in the World, something she said was extremely special to her and credited her support team.

“I’ve been so close to that yellow bib for a long time so it feels great to finally wear it and land on top of the podium,” she said.

"I feel pretty good about the execution of my jumps and have loved every second of working with Joe (Davies) and Jeff (Bean) on the hill."

"Barbara and Kate have also been excellent, it was a fantastic team effort out there."

“I felt really good about the execution of my jumps and have loved every second up here. To finish the day with Bronze in the team event as well just made this time one to remember,” she said.

Danielle Scott at the top of the podium, and teammate Samantha Wells in 3rd after the second World Cup event today.

​It was a career defining weekend for Wells too, who bounced back after a disappointing individual performance yesterday to hit a personal best score to make her second career podium.

“My aim was just to carry out some of the things we worked on in pre-season camp which was my take-off and my landing technique,” said Wells.

“Even though I didn’t start well on paper, I was happy to progress my jumps over the course of the four days, and landed the dFF for the first time in competition so it was a really satisfying and enjoyable time.”

Dave Morris faced a tougher task but pushed on for 5th, before joining up with the girls to go one better than last year’s 4th place team finish in Beijing to claim the Bronze.

“Unfortunately I was fairly unprepared for competitions this weekend with injury, so today was a much-needed confidence boost after a disappointing result in the first World Cup,” Morris said.

“Last year the team came 4th, being at a disadvantage having two girls and one boy, instead of two boys and one girl. Sam and Dani really put down some great jumps, which combined with mine to secure a spot in the top three, pushing out what seemed like some much stronger teams, but quality jumps and good landings pulled through and we have Australia’s first team medal."

"I’m very proud of everyone’s efforts today."

World Champion Laura Peel is yet to find her best form after qualifying strongly on day one in fourth place, followed by two 12th places but has her eyes set for bigger things in 2017. 

The team will break over Christmas but will re-group again for the next event on January 13th at Lake Placid, USA.