Peel wins Deer Valley gold with one of the greatest jumps of all time

Courtesy of https://www.owia.org/

Laura Peel has produced one of the highest scoring jumps of all time to win gold at the World Cup aerial skiing event in Deer Valley, USA.

Peel scored an amazing 118.05 points with her full-full-full, triple twisting triple back somersault, to record the seventh World Cup victory of her career and winning by almost 35 points. Peel’s score was so impressive, it would have put her on the podium in the men’s event.

Second place went to China’s Kong Fanyu who scored 84.58 points, with Hanna Huskova rounding out the podium in third with 82.65 points.

Danielle Scott almost made it a double podium for Australia, finishing in fourth place after attempting her first ever full-full-full in competition, which scored 80.27 points after having trouble with her landing. Scott had earlier won the qualification round and then qualified for the super final in first place with her full-tuck-full, double twisting triple somersault scoring 103.74 points.

“Obviously a great day today, I feel like I have been working for a long time to put down a jump like this” said Peel, the 32-year-old from Canberra.

“To do it right ahead of the Olympic Games is amazing. I’ve been putting the work on the triple for a few seasons now, and I’m always very grateful for the experience I have when things get tough.

“So many people have helped me get to this point in my career and continue to help me chase my dreams every day, but when I started working with my coach Mich Roth three years ago things started to click, we make a great team.”

Just missing out on the 12-woman final was Gabi Ash in 13th, with Abbey Willcox in 22nd. In the men’s event Wesley Naylor finished in 35th place.

After six events this season, Peel has now moved into third place on the World Cup standings with Scott one spot behind in fourth.

The aerial skiing athletes will now head to Le Relais, Canada, for a training camp to prepare for the Beijing Olympic Winter Games.