Aerialists deliver big jumps as Peel takes Lac-Beauport
Published Thu 08 Jan 2026
Courtesy OWIA
Laura Peel claims her first World Cup gold of 2026 in Canada
Australia’s aerial skiing double World Champion Laura Peel has stormed back to form, securing her first World Cup victory of the season with an impressive performance at Lac-Beauport, Canada.
Peel bounced back from a 23rd-place finish on day one, delivering an excellent series of trademark triple back somersault to capture the 15th World Cup win of her career and her fourth victory at Lac-Beauport.
Peel qualified for the finals in eighth place with a double full-full double somersault scoring 81.78 points, joining teammate Airleigh Frigo, who impressed with a career best score of 87.25 to advance in fourth. Making her first World Cup final was Sidney Stephens, in 12th scoring 76.85 points for her lay-full jump.
In the opening round of finals, Peel soared to the top-six super-final with a lay-full-full triple back somersault, earning 106.74 points. Frigo narrowly missed advancing in seventh place with 84.73 points, while Stephens achieved a personal best, finishing 11th on 72.29 points.
In the super-final, all three podium finishers delivered the challenging full-full-full triple twisting back somersault. Peel led the way with a big score of 113.76 points, followed by American Winter Vinecki in second on 109.90, with China’s Xu Mengtao third on 97.02.
“I don’t know if we’ve had three full-full-full’s on the podium before,” said the 36-year-old from Canberra.
“It feels really good to be back. I’m really happy with that jump, with my jumping all day. Yesterday wasn’t really my day, and I’m really stoked to come back today with that.
“It’s epic to see women out there doing the big tricks, because we can. It’s great fun.
Also in action for Australia in Lac-Beauport was Abbey Willcox, who narrowly missed finals by one place in 13thand Danielle Scott was 20th, while in the men’s event, Reilly Flanagan also finished 20th.
The World Cup tour now heads to Lake Placid, USA, for a double event on January 11–12, which will serve as the final Olympic qualification competitions in aerial skiing.
