Lydia Lassila: High Stakes Aerials Skiing

Aerial Skiing is a high-risk, high-reward event where precision is everything. Athletes launch off massive jumps, throwing complex flips and twists before racing to spot the landing, with medals often decided in a single moment.

Australia enters Milano-Cortina with a proud aerials legacy and genuine medal chances in both the individual and team events.

We sat down with Winter Olympian and dual Olympic gold medallist Lydia Lassila to preview the aerials event and the key contenders to watch in Milano Cortina.

What makes Aerials unique compared to other Winter Olympic events?

“For Australia, we've had a longer legacy in aerial skiing with the likes of Kirstie Marshall and Jacqui Cooper already succeeding in the 90s as World Champions," Lassila said. 

“They really paved the way for the rest of us, with Alisa Camplin following in the early 2000s and then myself, and now the legacy continues with Danielle Scott and and Laura Peel, who both have had multiple World Championship medals and overall World Cup golds, so hopefully they can snag an Olympic gold medal and complete the collection and keep the legacy alive.”

What are the moments in competition where medals are usually won or lost?

“At the Olympics it comes down to the pressure,” Lassila said.

“The Olympics are every four years and the pressure is a lot stronger and more intense than other World Cup competitions that do come around every year. 

“So there's a lot more at stake, and I think the athletes that can just keep cool and keep their presence and just keep doing what they always do in the same routines and behaviors through one moment to the next, have a really good ability to kind of deflect everything that comes with that added pressure.” 

How will the Milano–Cortina venues and conditions influence Aerials?

“The event is going to be held in Livigno, and it's where all of the freestyle events will be held,” Lassila said. 

“And what's different about this Olympics, is that the aerial finals will actually be during the day. 

“Over the past six Olympics, since Salt Lake City in 2002, every final has been held at nigh time, and Aerial skiers love competing at night because there's just so much contrast between the night sky and the white snow, so it's better visibility. 

“So, it'll be a bit different being a daytime final in 2026 and the weather will have a bit of an effect because if it's a cloudy or foggy day, the visibility won't be great, making it harder to judge how fast the landing is coming to you.

“If it's a sunny day, that can also come into play and affect the athletes a bit, as they might start training when the sun hasn't quite hit the aerial skiing jumps, and then throughout the competition, that might change with the sun melting the surface of the snow. 

“It's an outdoor sport, so there's nothing new that the athletes haven't dealt with before, so it really just comes down to who can manage it the best and which teams can get the speeds right and who can keep their cool.”

Who are the athletes or nations expected to set the standard in Milano-Cortina?

“If everyone jumps their best on their best day, I think Laura Peel is the strongest contender out there,” Lassila said.

“Her jumps are beautiful and she competes with the triple somersault, which she's been doing for years now, and is so experienced. 

“The Chinese also have a very strong team, across both men and women. 

“We've got a couple of American athletes that are really strong as well, who have had some solid results this season, and also doing the triple somersaults.

“Danielle Scott from Australia is also looking really strong, as well as our whole team. Abbey Willcox and Airleigh Frigo as well are definitely top 10 contenders if not top 6.” 

Are there any rising stars or outsiders who could surprise people at these Games?

“I think the women's field, I don't think there will be as many surprises coming from the less experienced athletes,” Lassila said.

“There's a couple of Chinese athletes that haven't had as much experience that are doing triple somersaults that could definitely shake things up. 

“The men's field is definitely a little bit different, and there's some young Ukrainian athletes that are extremely strong, and if they put their jumps down, they can certainly shake things up. 

“But I think if you're looking at the men's side, anyone sitting overall in the top eight has a great chance of securing a win in Milan Cortina.” 

If everything goes right, what would a perfect performance look like at Milano-Cortina?

“Every athlete competing wants to make the finals first and foremost, because then that's your ticket to the dance and where you get to have a chance of competing for medals,” Lassila said.

“So I think that's step one to the perfect performance. 

“But in a high pressure situation like the Olympic Games, if you can keep your cool, and keep really calm under that pressure, and deliver the jumps or the performance that you can do, showcasing what you’re capable of, that’s enough to deliver a great performance.”

What would make these Olympics memorable for Aerial Skiing? 

“Australia has a chance of winning two medals in the women's event, and that's never been done at an Olympic Games before,” Lassila said.

“Laura Peel and Danielle Scott have a real opportunity to be able to do that as regulars on the podium. 

“If that does happen, then that surely will be memorable, and obviously any color medal is wonderful, but I think we are really in a position, particularly Laura, to win another gold medal in this sport. 

“And that hasn't been done since my gold medal in 2010, so we’re definitely due.”

Photo Credit: Olympic Winter Institute of Australia