Lydia Lassila has reinforced her position as the world’s number one aerial skier, winning her second event of the season in Mont Gabriel, Canada.

Competing in minus 18 degree temperatures and blinding sunlight, Lassila qualified in second place on 93.94 points behind 2005 and 2007 world champion Nina Li of China on 97.46 points.

The 27-year-old AIS skier then backed up in the final, landing her second triple twisting double somersault to earn 92.00 points from the judges for a total of 185.94 points.

Shuang Cheng took the silver on 181.18 points, with Chinese team-mate Shanshan Zhao joining her on the podium on 170.41 points.

With the Quebec resort’s jump and landing hill difficult to see because of the dazzling light, Torino 2006 gold medallist Evelyne Leu of Switzerland and Belarussian world number two Alla Tsuper were among a string of casualties who crashed in training and took no further part in the competition.

The visibility problem also put paid to Jacqui Cooper’s hopes, the five time World Cup champion backslapping her qualifying jump to finish in 19th place on 68.64 points.

Lassila’s performance was made more impressive by the fact that she injured herself during training in a fall early in the week, missed two days on snow, and only executed two triple twisting double somersault training jumps prior to competing.

“The first day of training I took two big whacks, I missed two days and we did lots of testing and I passed all the tests and we decided I was good enough to compete,” Lassila said.

“But we decided the safest course was to wind back from the triple somersaults and go back to my doubles.”

“I haven’t got many numbers up on the doubles this season – the last ones I did were in China (in December), so I was just relying on all the ones I’ve done before.”

“And it’s hard to go back to doubles, you have to change momentum and I was nervous.”

“It was tricky in general today. The wind was swinging to and fro and the sun was shining right on the end of the jump in the morning.”

“But I’m really happy.”

“It was a good decision to go ahead and jump – we played it smart and safe and it was a good result.”

Best of the AIS squad behind Lassila was Liz Gardner, who missed qualifying by one place, finishing in 13th position on 72.13 points after winding back to a double twisting double somersault because of the condition.

Bree Munro, the best of the Australians in last week’s Lake Placid event, was at the back of the field in 23rd position on 60.27 points after crashing out the landing of her triple twisting double somersault.

After two gold and one bronze for the season, she now leads the World Cup standings on 271 points, 97 clear of Zhao. Cooper has dropped back to eighth place on 136 points.

The fifth event of the season will be held on the 2002 Olympic site of Deer Valley on Saturday (early morning January 31 Australian time).

Athlete Audio
To visit the OWI Gallery and hear audio of Lydia Lassila following the event, please click here.