Guo Xinxin won the women's aerial title at the 2005 Freestyle Skiing FIS World Cup in Shenyang, China's northeastern Liaoning Province on Saturday. She became the only woman jumper to execute two successive jumps with three turns, receiving 192.99 points.
Her countrywoman Li Nina took second place with 187.61 points, edging Australian Lydia Ierodiaconou into third place with 187.25. Li led overall with 645 points after eight of 13 events, closely followed by Ierodiaconou on 625 and ahead of Guo on 329.
In the men's final, half the 12 competitors committed errors in difficult routines, helping Han Xiaopeng to finish third on the Baiqingzhai Course with 232.40 points. The US' Jeret Peterson got 247.63 points, winning gold, and Canadian Steve Omischl took second place with 242.52.
As one of competitive skiing events recognized by the International Olympic
Committee, freestyle skiing involves tricks while skiing, including over ski slope bumps (mogul runs) or from a ramp (aerials).
In aerials, skiers hit the jumps or kickers at speeds of 60+ kmph and soar up to 50 feet in the air while performing somersaults and turns, landing on a steep landing hill.
In another winter sports event, China's Fu Tianyu and Wang Meng won gold and silver yesterday in the women's 500m at the ISU 2004-2005 Short Track Speed Skating World Cup in Hungary. Yang Yang (A) ranked fourth, and will compete in the women's 3,000m rally tomorrow.
(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn February 6, 2005)
