In a stunning return to form, Australian aerial skier Danielle Scott has claimed her first World Cup victory in almost three years, delivering a perfectly timed confidence boost just weeks out from the Winter Olympics.
A Long-Awaited Triumph
The 35-year-old three-time Olympian put a challenging season firmly behind her with a morale-lifting win at Lake Placid in the United States on Sunday, local time. Scoring an impressive 95.88 points in the super final, Scott soared to the top of the podium, edging out China's reigning Olympic champion Xu Mengtai (94.01 points). American skier and 2025 world champion Kaila Kuhn rounded out the top three with 92.29 points.
"I'm just letting this sink in. I've had a rough run this season," an elated Scott said after the event. The victory marks her first World Cup gold since March 2023 and is the seventh of her distinguished career. "A lot of highs and lows ... today I just needed to go prove myself, and I did that, so I'm stoked."
Smart Strategy in Tricky Conditions
The competition was fierce, with four of the six finalists attempting risky triple jumps. Scott and her coaching team made a critical strategic decision, opting for the slightly less complex but more reliable back double full-full. This smart choice proved decisive given the difficult weather and landing conditions at the iconic venue.
"I was hoping to do triples, and we made some hard decisions and decided to keep it on the double. I think it paid off," explained the New South Wales athlete. Looking ahead, she added, "I want to do them, so let's get Mother Nature on our side."
The challenging conditions were evident across the field. Fellow Australian Laura Peel, who won the previous World Cup event in Canada, couldn't stick her landing and finished sixth. Another Aussie, Airleigh Frigo, placed seventh.
Olympic Momentum Builds
This result provides a massive psychological lift for Scott as she finalises her preparation for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which begin on February 6. The win demonstrates she can perform under pressure and outshine the world's best, including the current Olympic gold medallist.
In the men's competition, China's Wang Xindi defied the tricky conditions with an ambitious five-twist jump—a back double full-full-double full—to score 103.50 points and secure his first World Cup win of the season.
The aerial skiing circuit remains in Lake Placid for another World Cup event on Monday (local time), offering athletes one final chance to fine-tune their performance before the Olympic stage beckons next month.
