Windy night for Aerials finalists

Laura Peel and Danielle Scott have battled through tough conditions to make the six-woman final of the PyeongChang 2018 test event in Korea Friday night.

Peel and Scott, who now sits second in the World Cup rankings, finished fifth and sixth at the home of next year’s Games with swirling winds disrupting the duo’s final jump and shot at another podium finish.
 
After winning last weekend’s event in Deer Valley, dual Olympic medallist Lydia Lassila finished 17th, Samantha Wells did not start and David Morris claimed 23rd in the men’s event.
 
“It really was a mental game today and the coaches did a really good job to get us ready,” Peel said after scoring 52.52 on her final jump as China claimed a clean sweep of the medals.
 
“I’m happy with how I went I just missed the last one. The goal was to make the last six and go from there so coming off injury I feel I’m getting there.”
 
Scott headed into the event as the world number one and has been jumping exceptionally throughout the season but couldn’t match her earlier season podium efforts in Korea.
 
“I was happy to make the final but I was a bit bummed to not stick the landing on my final jump in tricky conditions,” Scott said after her final jump scored her 52.17.
 
“I’m pretty happy with the start of the season so I’m hoping to stay healthy and keep progressing.”
 
Peel and Scott qualified for the final in second and third when they both put down 87.88 jumps. Lassila bowed out in the qualification after scoring 55.12.
 
Earlier in the week the PyeongChang 2018 countdown clock ticked under one year to go and the chance to compete on the Olympic course will no doubt help the Aussie athletes come next year’s Games.
 
“It’s definitely nice to know what to expect and see what the conditions are like so we know what we are in for next time,” Scott said.
 
The Aussie team will now head to Europe and then to the next World Cup Minsk, Belarus.