Danielle Scott has returned to aerial skiing competition in the best possible way, taking the gold medal in Deer Valley, USA, her first event since the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, while Matt Graham's performance in dual moguls moved him into first place in the World Cup rankings.
The 30-year-old from Sydney scored 90.59 points with her back double full-full (a triple twisting double back somersault), to record the fourth victory and eleventh podium performance of her World Cup career.
Scott made great progress in her return to sport, training at the new world-class Geoff Henke Olympic Winter Training Centre Water Ramp facility located at Brisbane’s Sleeman Sports Centre.
World number one Laura Peel advanced through the earlier rounds in first place and was the only female in the super final to jump triple back somersaults.
Peel had issues with her speed on her final jump with the snow conditions constantly changing in the sun, and was unable to complete her nominated jump, receiving a “did not finish” and no score from the judges to put her in sixth place.
Scott said that she couldn't have asked for a better return to the slopes.
“I am beside myself, this is crazy, it’s been a long time since competing and I love this sport and this is probably the best welcome back ever”, multiple world championship medallist said.
“Today was good, it was interesting with the conditions, but I started off training really well, put down a good qualifying jump, continued on with training and finals and put down everything I needed to.
“This is a good confidence boost for the World Championships next month, this is obviously my first competition back so I needed that and I am really excited for what’s ahead.”
Rounding out the podium was American Winter Vinecki in second place with her teammate Kaila Kuhn in third.
Gabi Ash also had a successful first event of her season in Deer Valley, with a personal best seventh-place finish, giving Australia three top-ten performances.
With one World Cup remaining for the season, Peel maintains her lead as the number one aerial skier in the world with 410 points, with Winter Vinecki the only possible challenger for the Crystal Globe, trailing on the standings by 67 points.
Meanwhile, mogul skier Matt Graham made it three consecutive podiums with back to back medals at the World Cup event in Deer Valley, USA, claiming the silver medal in the dual moguls, after bronze on Friday.
Saturday's success moves Graham into first place on the World Cup standings, the first time an Australian male mogul skier has had the yellow leader bib since the legendary Dale Begg-Smith in 2010.
The 26-year-old from the NSW Central Coast moved through the earlier rounds of the event with ease to advance to the dual for first place against 2018 Olympic Champion Mikael Kingsbury of Canada.
In a very close head to head race in snowy conditions, Graham just fell short with Kingsbury taking the win with a score of 20 to 15 points. Rounding out the podium in third place was Benjamin Cavet of France.
“Feels great to get the silver here in Deer Valley after yesterday’s bronze”, Graham said after collecting his third medal of the season.
“It was a tough day today, I think all the boys were a bit sore after yesterday’s event, so we really had to dig deep.
“It’s a great feeling to go into the last World Cup event of the season wearing the yellow leader's bib.”
For Graham, the result marks the 18th major medal of his career (3 gold, 7 silver, 8 bronze).
With one World Cup competition left in the schedule, a dual mogul event in Kazakstan on March 14, Graham sits in first place on the standings with 289 points.
Behind Graham in the standings is Frenchman Benjamin Cavet on 271 points, Ludavig Fjallstrom of Sweden with 258 points and Ikuma Horishima of Japan on 246 points.
Graham’s teammate Brodie Summers is in fifth on the standings after finishing eighth in the same event.
