Lydia Lassila has unveiled a new jump at an aerial skiing World Cup in Deer Valley, demolishing the opposition with a world record points score.
The defending World Cup champion posted a two-jump total of 220.91 points, nearly 14 points ahead of silver medallist Xu Mengtao of China (207.00), edging past the existing record of 219.81 set by team-mate Jacqui Cooper at the Torino 2006 Games.
Lassila opened the Utah competition with a jump she had landed for the first time a day earlier, a triple twisting triple somersault worth 113.56 points, while her nearest rival, Chinese triple world champion Li Nina, led the rest of the field on 99.33 points.
She followed with a second 100-point plus jump, a double twisting triple, to post her tenth World Cup win.
It was an early birthday present for the AIS/VIS skier, who turns 28 tomorrow.
Lassila’s new jump, a lay double-full full, is one regularly performed by the men on the circuit, and requires a double twist in the second somersault.
“It’s a big jump,” Lassila said. “The guys do it week in, week out.”
“I did one yesterday in training for the first time, and then another in training today.”
“I know I can do it now. It was good today, and there’s even room for improvement.”
“This was a tough competition – there were four girls over 200 points.”
Returning to competition, Cooper finished in seventh position on 173.88 points after opting to perform lower degree of difficulty double and single twisting somersaults.
The five-time World Cup champion was in beautiful form, however, rating close to perfect scores for her two jumps.
Liz Gardner, also on the comeback trail from an MCL injury, finished in 18th place while Bree Munro was one spot further back.
Australia’s sole men’s aerialist, David Morris, jumped to his first top ten result, qualifying a place at the Vancouver 2010 in the process.
In a very impressive performance, Morris scored a total of 223.78 points, a personal best, to finish in ninth place in only his sixth competition.
Australia’s mogul skiers will return to the Utah resort tomorrow for a second World Cup.
