Danielle Scott, an Australian aerial skier, has secured her first World Cup aerials victory in nearly three years, just a month before the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. This win comes as a significant boost to her medal prospects, especially after a challenging season. Scott's triumph at Lake Placid, USA, was achieved with a safer back double full-full, while her competitors attempted more complex triples but struggled with landings. The 35-year-old, a three-time Olympian, scored 95.88 points in the super final, outshining China's reigning Olympic champion, Xu Mengtai, who scored 94.01. America's 2025 world champion, Kaila Kuhn, took third place with 92.29 points. Despite a strong performance, Laura Peel, who won the previous World Cup event in Canada, finished sixth due to a missed landing. Airleigh Frigo, another Australian, placed seventh. Scott expressed her emotions, stating, 'I'm letting this sink in. I've had a rough run this season.' This victory marks her first World Cup win since March 2023 and the seventh of her career. Scott's decision to perform a back double full-full was strategic, considering the challenging conditions and the presence of four out of six skiers in the medal round attempting triples. She expressed her determination, saying, 'I want to do them, so let's get Mother Nature on our side.' In the men's competition, China's Wang Xindi won with a back double full-full-double full, earning 103.50 points and his first World Cup win of the season. The next World Cup event at Lake Placid will serve as a final preparation for the Milan-Cortina Games, which commence on February 6.
