Peel wins World Cup final and third Crystal Globe on 2026 Olympic Course
Published Fri 14 Mar 2025
Aerial skier Laura Peel has won the final World Cup event of the season with a stunning performance on the 2026 Olympic course in Livigno, Italy, her fifth victory of the season and the 14th of her impressive career. Peel claimed her third FIS World Cup Crystal Globe as the number one ranked athlete at the end of World Cup circuit.
Australian female aerial skiers have now amassed a total of 14 Crystal Globes over the past 33 years. Peel now has the second-highest total among Australians with three, trailing only the legendary Jacqui Cooper, who has five. Other winners include Kirstie Marshall, Alisa Camplin, Lydia Lassila and Danielle Scott.
Peel had a near-unbeatable lead heading into the event, only needing 12th or better to secure the title which she did by qualifying second in the qualification round. Joining Peel in finals was Airleigh Frigo in fifth, Abbey Willcox seventh and Danielle Scott tenth. Just missing by one place was Elise Coleiro in 13th while in the men’s event Reilly Flanagan was 17th.
Peel then performed a lay-full-full double twisting triple back somersault in the first round of finals, to advance to the top six super-final in second place on 91.83 points. Just missing out on the medal round was Abbey Willcox in seventh, Airleigh Frigo ninth and Danielle Scott 11th.
In the super-final Peel upped her degree of difficulty scoring an impressive 112.90 points for her spectacular full-full-full triple twisting triple back somersault in one of her best jumps of the season. Second place went to Xu of China on 105.17 and her teammate Meiting Chen was third on 91.44.
“I am so stoked, honestly I couldn’t be happier, it’s globe number three, I don’t think it gets any easier,” said the 35-year-old Peel from Canberra.
“That’s day four on this site now. I’ve got to say I really like it. It’s been working well for me, I’ve been jumping well. That’s a relief and I’m so excited to come back here for the Olympics.”
Peel finished the season first with 542 points, 98 clear of Xu on 444 and Scott was third on 368. It is the sixth time Scott has placed in the top three on final season rankings. Willcox and Frigo both had the highest rankings of their careers in fifth and tenth places respectively.
The season will now conclude with the prestigious FIS World Championships in St Moritz, Switzerland. Individual Aerial skiing qualifications are on March 29 and finals March 30.
Peel will be aiming to take the same preparation into St Moritz which has brought her so much success this season.
"Pretty much keep the same plan," she said. "What I have been doing I just want to repeat the same at the World Champs.
"It’s a long season, everyone is getting a bit tired, but we are super exited to head to St Moritz and it’s the peak of our season.”
Full FIS World Cup aerial skiing women’s results here.
Full FIS World Cup aerial skiing men’s results here.
