Lydia Ierodiaconou has been edged out of a fourth consecutive aerial skiing victory by Chinese skier Nina Li, but retains her comfortable lead at the top of the World Cup points table.
Lydia Ierodiaconou has been edged out of a fourth consecutive aerial skiing victory by Chinese skier Nina Li, but retains her comfortable lead at the top of the World Cup points table.
In a wind-affected one jump competition in Lake Placid, New York, Li scored 96.56 points to Ierodiaconou’s 94.25, both women performing triple twisting double somersaults despite the conditions and the lack of training time caused by long delays in the men’s event
Li’s team-mate Shuang Cheng took the bronze.
Former world number one Jacqui Cooper finished in fifth place on 85.20 points, with Liz Gardner in seventh on 82.18.
“I’m so happy with the outcome,” Ierodiaconou said. “Anything could have happened today. It was windy and we didn’t get much training with all the delays and by the time I went it was dark. I didn’t know which way was up or down.”
“I was a bit nervous because I was close to last in the run order – I was 28th – and I knew Nina had done a great jump and I knew that there was a bunch of jumps that I had to beat.”
“So I was in a pretty intense pressure position today but I kept my composure and calmed down and did the jump. It was really tough today, really tough but very satisfying.”
Cooper was battling illness as well as the weather conditions in the lead up to the competition.
“I had bad sinusitis all week and strep throat and they treated me for the flu as well,” Cooper said.
“I only did seven jumps on the site all week prior to the competition so I definitely had to rely on experience today.”
“I was really happy with my jump in the air. It was really straight but I was a little bit forward on the landing and started twisting around. I got it back and skied out, but the judges had to mark down the landing score.”
“So I was disappointed with the landing today, but things are going well in terms of the technical improvements and that’s all that matters. I’m not in a position to win and I’m not looking for that.”
Gardner's jump was just the fifth time she had attempted a triple twisting double somersault in competition, all the more impressive because of the little time she had to train. Of the five occasions, she has only missed landing the jump once.
Ierodiaconou leads the World Cup standings on 380 points, 95 clear of Li on 185. Cooper has moved up to third on the table on 210 points. Gardner sits in tenth place on 108 points.
Of the other Flying Kangaroos, Lainie Cole placed equal 18th and Bree Munro 24th. Munro averaged six in the air for her lay full, but was unable to put the jump down cleanly, while Cole also had problems landing her full full.
In a wind-affected one jump competition in Lake Placid, New York, Li scored 96.56 points to Ierodiaconou’s 94.25, both women performing triple twisting double somersaults despite the conditions and the lack of training time caused by long delays in the men’s event
Li’s team-mate Shuang Cheng took the bronze.
Former world number one Jacqui Cooper finished in fifth place on 85.20 points, with Liz Gardner in seventh on 82.18.
“I’m so happy with the outcome,” Ierodiaconou said. “Anything could have happened today. It was windy and we didn’t get much training with all the delays and by the time I went it was dark. I didn’t know which way was up or down.”
“I was a bit nervous because I was close to last in the run order – I was 28th – and I knew Nina had done a great jump and I knew that there was a bunch of jumps that I had to beat.”
“So I was in a pretty intense pressure position today but I kept my composure and calmed down and did the jump. It was really tough today, really tough but very satisfying.”
Cooper was battling illness as well as the weather conditions in the lead up to the competition.
“I had bad sinusitis all week and strep throat and they treated me for the flu as well,” Cooper said.
“I only did seven jumps on the site all week prior to the competition so I definitely had to rely on experience today.”
“I was really happy with my jump in the air. It was really straight but I was a little bit forward on the landing and started twisting around. I got it back and skied out, but the judges had to mark down the landing score.”
“So I was disappointed with the landing today, but things are going well in terms of the technical improvements and that’s all that matters. I’m not in a position to win and I’m not looking for that.”
Gardner's jump was just the fifth time she had attempted a triple twisting double somersault in competition, all the more impressive because of the little time she had to train. Of the five occasions, she has only missed landing the jump once.
Ierodiaconou leads the World Cup standings on 380 points, 95 clear of Li on 185. Cooper has moved up to third on the table on 210 points. Gardner sits in tenth place on 108 points.
Of the other Flying Kangaroos, Lainie Cole placed equal 18th and Bree Munro 24th. Munro averaged six in the air for her lay full, but was unable to put the jump down cleanly, while Cole also had problems landing her full full.
