Lydia Lassila has led a winning Australian double in a weather-shortened opening to the 2008/09 aerial skiing World Cup. Lassila collected the eighth victory of her career ahead of OWI/AIS team-mate and defending World Cup champion Jacqui Cooper in the Chinese resort of Adventure Mountain.
Lydia Lassila has led a winning Australian double in a weather-shortened opening to the 2008/09 aerial skiing World Cup.
Lassila collected the eighth victory of her career ahead of OWI/AIS team-mate and defending World Cup champion Jacqui Cooper in the Chinese resort of Adventure Mountain.
The 26-year-old Mt Buller skier scored 92.88 points for her triple twisting double somersault to lead the qualifying round, and was then awarded the gold medal when heavy snowfalls and high winds forced the cancellation of the final round of the competition.
Hampered by the judges’ decision to ban triple somersault jumps because of the dangerous weather conditions, Cooper downgraded to a double twisting double somersault to post 89.14 points for the silver medal.
It was the 39th podium result for the 35-year-old, who was embarking on her 16th season on the Freestyle World Cup.
The third member of the OWI/AIS team in China, Liz Gardner, finished in ninth place on 77.64 points after dragging her hand in the snow as she landed what was a text-book jump in the air.
Lassila, who ended last season ranked number two in the world, was delighted with the one-jump win.
“What a surprise that was,” said Lassila. “But I’ll take it.”
“That was just the third triple twisting double I’ve done all season, so I’m really happy.”
“The snow was just dumping and the wind was really gusting around, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to jump.”
“I had to step up two and a half metres to get enough speed, and I went very big, but I’m glad I did.”
Cooper was also happy with her result, given the circumstances.
“I didn’t even get to practice my full-full (a double twisting double somersault),” Cooper said.
“I spent nearly all of training trying to get my speed right on the triple jump, and then ten minutes before the competition they announced that it would be only a doubles contest.”
“I managed to get down to the double jump and get one lay-full off (a single twisting double), and then I jumped the full-full in the qualifying.”
“And it was a good jump - it’s nice to be able to rely on a good technical base.”
“I was disappointed I couldn’t do my full DD (degree of difficulty) but second place is a good result and it’s a long season.”
Athlete Audio
To visit the OWI Gallery and hear audio of Lydia Lassila and Jacqui Cooper following the event, please click here.
