On February 8, 2025, the Australian aerial skiing team achieved a result never seen before in the history of the sport. At the Deer Valley World Cup in Utah, four Australian women took the top four spots in a single event. Laura Peel won the gold medal, followed by Danielle Scott with silver, and Abbey Willcox with bronze. Airleigh Frigo finished in fourth place. This event marks the first time any nation has swept the podium in this specific skiing discipline. The win happened during difficult weather conditions, which forced athletes to change their plans and manage long wait times.
Record Performance in Utah
The event at Deer Valley showed a high level of consistency from the Australian team. Laura Peel secured her third win in a row and the 12th win of her career. While the competition is usually known for high-risk triple somersaults, the weather forced a change in strategy.
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Strategy Change: Due to the weather, Peel chose to perform double somersaults instead of triples to ensure a safe and clean landing.
Team Scoring: Three of the four top skiers performed the same "full-full" jump (two flips with two twists).
Rankings: This win helped Laura Peel keep her place at the top of the overall World Cup standings.
| Athlete | Rank | Score | Jump Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Peel | 1st | 87.88 | Full-Full (Double) |
| Danielle Scott | 2nd | 82.53 | Full-Full (Double) |
| Abbey Willcox | 3rd | 79.38 | Full-Full (Double) |
| Airleigh Frigo | 4th | 78.12 | Full-Full (Double) |
Australia is the first country to win all three medals in a single FIS Freestyle World Cup aerials event.
Adapting to Difficult Conditions
Investigating how these athletes handle delays and weather reveals a focus on mental control. In Deer Valley, the conditions were described as "difficult," which often means poor visibility or wind.
"No one jumps without fear," states a report from the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS).
The athletes must wait for their turn while keeping their bodies warm and their minds sharp. Could the team's success during delays be linked to their training in high-pressure gymnastics? Many Australian aerialists, such as rookie Sidney Stephens, started as elite gymnasts before moving to the snow. This background provides a foundation of "air awareness" that may help when conditions change at the last minute.
The Mental Burden of Risk
The sport of aerial skiing involves flying several stories into the air. Data from the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) suggests that injuries are a common part of the sport.
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Injury Management: Staying calm during delays is a safety requirement, not just a sports skill.
Experience: The team relies on veterans like Peel and Scott, who have both won World Cup "Crystal Globes" (overall titles).
Building Difficulty: Newer skiers like Sidney Stephens are currently focusing on "doubles" (two flips) to build a safe base before moving to the "triples" used by senior champions.
Training and Preparation Methods
While the exact "secret" to the team's success is not a single drill, evidence points to a long-term system of finding talent in gymnastics and moving it to skiing.
The Talent Pipeline: The "Flying Kangaroos" program identifies gymnasts who can handle the height and rotation of the jumps.
Consistency: Laura Peel and Danielle Scott have finished first and second in the same event four times, showing that their training produces repeatable results.
Next Generation: Five skiers have been chosen for the upcoming World Championships, all of whom have stood on a podium this season.
Professional Assessment
Experts from the VIS and OWIA indicate that the current Australian team is one of the strongest in history. The transition from gymnastics to skiing allows athletes to focus on the technical parts of the jump while they learn to handle the fear of the height.
Is the "nuts" preparation mentioned by observers simply a result of extreme discipline? The evidence shows that when weather becomes a problem, the Australians reduce their risk (doing doubles instead of triples) rather than trying to force a high-difficulty jump. This calculated decision-making led directly to the clean sweep in Utah.
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Final Summary
The Australian aerial skiing team has reached a level of dominance where they occupy the entire podium. The sweep at Deer Valley was the result of technical skill and the ability to change plans quickly when weather became an issue.
Key Findings:
Laura Peel remains the leader of the team with three consecutive wins.
The team uses a "gymnastics-to-skiing" path to find new talent like Sidney Stephens.
Managing fear and physical safety is a primary part of their preparation, especially during weather delays.
The team now looks toward the Milano Cortina games and the World Championships with five podium-ready athletes.
Sources Used
ABC News: Aussies sweep podium in historic World Cup victory - Details on the 1-2-3 finish and Laura Peel's win streak.
AAP News: Aussie skiers soar to fantastic four clean sweep - Specific scores and data on the top four finishers in Deer Valley.
OWIA: Aerial Skiing News - Information on Sidney Stephens and training in Livigno.
Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS): Inside the mind of an aerial skier - Analysis of the mental aspects and the "Flying Kangaroos" history.
