Beijing World Cup Report
The spectacle in the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing was remarkable and the event produced some equally spectacular jumping from the best in the world in front of a crowd of over 40,000 spectators. It was the first time for many of the aerialists to experience the full Olympic format for competition, with the top six skiers in the first round of qualification progressing straight to the finals whilst all the other competitors battled in a second round of qualification jumps to decide the next six skiers to complete the places for the final. The final consisted of three rounds featuring 12, eight and then four skiers in each respective round.
In the ladies qualification the Chinese athletes swept the top four places in round one, making it look as if it would be a done deal for the podium, but the Aussies fought back in Final-1 with Laura Peel (2nd) and Lydia Lassila (3rd) showing they meant business. Lassila hit the top spot in Final-2 but in the super-final Zhang Xin (CHN) gave the home crowd what they wanted by taking the win with a triple-twisting double. Lassila was 2nd and Xu Mehgtoa (CHN) placed 3rd, both jumped triple somersaults but were unable to land cleanly.
The men’s event was similarly eventful. Travis Gerrits (CAN) eventually prevailed to take the win from Wu Chao (CHN) with Jia Zongyang (CHN) in 3rd and Qi Guangpu (CHN) finishing 4th.
Britain’s Harry Gillam and Lloyd Wallace were part of the action but both felt they could have done better, even though participating was the most amazing experience.
Lloyd suffered an unfortunate incident in final training, just before the competition. Catching an edge as he hit the kicker for a triple-twisting double, he was flung sideways off the ramp, hitting the Swiss Team Coach before colliding with the barriers. He was shaken up but managed to compete, albeit with a lower degree of difficulty than he would have liked, but his confidence was shattered and his second jump was poor. He’s feeling sore and battered but was fortunate not to injure himself, or the Swiss coach seriously. Let’s hope some rest over Christmas gets him back to good form and the Swiss are still talking to him.
Harry sums up his competition:
“Well…it didn’t go as well as I wanted, but it’s been an amazing experience and I have plenty to be able to work on and improve. The training on the Saturday got cancelled which threw out the plan a bit, so I wasn’t able to get up to triples and add Lay-Full-Full to my jumps in training before the competition. So that meant I would have to add them into the training on comp day; when you never get more than a few jumps in. Did the triple and landed but was tail heavy and just couldn’t pull it back – didn’t wipe out tho’ but had to ski out on my tails.
The really experienced top guys really raised their game and the competition was tough. It was a new experience jumping on the scaffold airsite, being in a stadium with so many spectators for a big event, its been a lot to take in.
Thanks to the Chinese as they really pushed the boat out for the comp with the accommodation and meals; the same support happened at the hill where they had fresh snow each day and chopped the landing hill every three jumps. Beijing you have been awesome!
Now its time to leave China and head back to the USA for Christmas then start preparing for the next one at Deer Valley which is just down the road form Park City where I live. A comp in my own back yard.”
Links to the full FIS results
World Cup Beijing (CHN) Ladies’ Results
World Cup Beijing (CHN) Men’s Results