Scott and Peel win gold and silver at Swiss World Cup

Courtesy OWIA

Australian aerial skiers have recorded an amazing double podium performance, with Danielle Scott and Laura Peel taking home gold and silver at the World Cup competition overnight in Engadin, Switzerland, the second time the pair have taken the first two spots on the podium in the same event.

In sunny conditions at the future 2025 World Championship venue overlooking the iconic town of St Moritz, Scott and Peel made a great start to the event qualifying in first and third place for finals.

The wind picked up for finals competition later in the day, with Peel the only female athlete electing to compete the spectacular triple back somersaults, advancing to the super-final in first place with a score of 99.42 points for her lay-tuck-full jump, with Scott moving through in second place, scoring 88.83 for her full-full double back somersault jump.

In the super-final, Scott added an extra twist, executing a high scoring double full-full (triple twisting double back somersault) scoring 98.70 points to give her the third World Cup victory of the season and eighth of her career, adding to the World Championship silver medal she won last week in what has been a career best season for the 32-year-old. 

Peel finished in the silver medal position, after scoring 94.65 points on her high degree of difficulty lay-full-full, but unfortunately lost marks on her landing, giving Peel her second World Cup medal of the season.

Rounding out the podium in third place was Fanyu Kong of China with a score of 92 points.

With one event remaining, Scott has increased her lead at the top of the World Cup standings with 382 points, 92 points clear of Canadian Marion Thenault of Canada in second. If Scott finishes in 22nd spot or better at the final event she will win her first ever World Cup Crystal Globe title. Peel is ranked third on 262 points.

“Really happy with my jumping today, I was doing some triples in training, but then when the wind picked up, so I decided to maximise my points with doubles and keep it a little bit safer” said the 32-year-old from NSW, who now trains in Brisbane at the Geoff Henke Olympic Winter Training Centre water jump facility.

“I will enjoy the moment now, and think about it later (Crystal Globe), but I am honestly just so happy and it’s not over till it’s over, but I am excited for the last event.

Also in action for Australia was Airleigh Frigo, who finished in 17th place during the qualification round.

The World Cup final will take place two weeks from now on March 19 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.