The Chinese women have mounted another attack on Australia’s aerial skiing World Cup title ambitions, taking gold and silver in Fernie, British Columbia.
The Chinese women have mounted another attack on Australia’s aerial skiing World Cup title ambitions, taking gold and silver in Fernie, British Columbia.
Lydia Ierodiaconou had to settle for fifth place as Shaung Cheng claimed her maiden World Cup victory, with current world number two Nina Li in second place.
Ierodiaconou, who still leads the World Cup standings, was the only Australian to make the 12-woman final round of jumping.
Lainie Cole was the next best at 16th place, while Liz Gardner, Bree Munro and Jacqui Cooper filled 20th, 21st and 22nd places respectively.
With heavy rain battering the Canadian resort all week, the Australians - and the rest of the field - had not trained at all
Shaung Cheng led the qualifying round of jumps on 98.86 points, with Ierodiaconou in second place on 97.27 and Canadian Veronika Bauer in third place.
Li, with a poor landing on her opening triple twisting double somersault, was well back in eighth place.
In the second round it was Ierodiaconou’s turn to falter, missing her landing.
Li produced a 100 point plus jump to lead the second round, vaulting to second place overall on 185.6 points, but Cheng’s less difficult double twisting double somersault was also impressive, delivering the winning total of 190.84 points.
Bauer was third on 183.19, with Ierodiaconou finishing on 178.74 points.
“I was really happy with my training this morning,” Ierodiaconou said, “and my first round jump was really good.”
“The second one I thought I had pretty much. It wasn’t too huge and it felt OK in the air but I wheelied on the landing and dragged my hand a little.”
“It’s the first one I’ve crashed in competition this season, and it’s unfortunate but you’ve got to expect to crash one or two in the year.”
“I’m going to train some triples in Deer Valley if the weather is OK. We’ll see how they go in training and I might decide to put them in at the weekend.”
Lainie Cole, though not particularly happy with her 16th placing, was pleased to have landed her first double twisting double somersault in competition.
Cheng’s first World Cup win comes in just her 12th event, shading Ierodiaconou who took 15 events to claim her first victory.
The Australian remains on top of the World Cup standings on 505 points, with Nina Li on 465 and Cheng now in third place on 290 points.
Cooper is in fourth place on 260 points and Liz Gardner still inside the top ten on 155 points in tenth place.
The World Cup moves to the Salt Lake 2002 site of Deer Valley next weekend for the seventh round of the season.
Lydia Ierodiaconou had to settle for fifth place as Shaung Cheng claimed her maiden World Cup victory, with current world number two Nina Li in second place.
Ierodiaconou, who still leads the World Cup standings, was the only Australian to make the 12-woman final round of jumping.
Lainie Cole was the next best at 16th place, while Liz Gardner, Bree Munro and Jacqui Cooper filled 20th, 21st and 22nd places respectively.
With heavy rain battering the Canadian resort all week, the Australians - and the rest of the field - had not trained at all
Shaung Cheng led the qualifying round of jumps on 98.86 points, with Ierodiaconou in second place on 97.27 and Canadian Veronika Bauer in third place.
Li, with a poor landing on her opening triple twisting double somersault, was well back in eighth place.
In the second round it was Ierodiaconou’s turn to falter, missing her landing.
Li produced a 100 point plus jump to lead the second round, vaulting to second place overall on 185.6 points, but Cheng’s less difficult double twisting double somersault was also impressive, delivering the winning total of 190.84 points.
Bauer was third on 183.19, with Ierodiaconou finishing on 178.74 points.
“I was really happy with my training this morning,” Ierodiaconou said, “and my first round jump was really good.”
“The second one I thought I had pretty much. It wasn’t too huge and it felt OK in the air but I wheelied on the landing and dragged my hand a little.”
“It’s the first one I’ve crashed in competition this season, and it’s unfortunate but you’ve got to expect to crash one or two in the year.”
“I’m going to train some triples in Deer Valley if the weather is OK. We’ll see how they go in training and I might decide to put them in at the weekend.”
Lainie Cole, though not particularly happy with her 16th placing, was pleased to have landed her first double twisting double somersault in competition.
Cheng’s first World Cup win comes in just her 12th event, shading Ierodiaconou who took 15 events to claim her first victory.
The Australian remains on top of the World Cup standings on 505 points, with Nina Li on 465 and Cheng now in third place on 290 points.
Cooper is in fourth place on 260 points and Liz Gardner still inside the top ten on 155 points in tenth place.
The World Cup moves to the Salt Lake 2002 site of Deer Valley next weekend for the seventh round of the season.
