Chinese freestyle aerialist Wang Xindi snapped a three-year World Cup victory drought by topping the podium in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Sunday. At 29 years old, Wang delivered an exceptional performance, executing a back double full-full-double full—a trick deemed the most difficult attempted by any competitor that day.
Wang scored an impressive 127.50 points, securing first place on his final leap. This triumph marks his first World Cup win since Deer Valley in 2022, ending a significant hiatus in his competitive career.
\"I think I performed well today and it was not easy for me to win this gold. And I think all my compatriots performed great today. You can always believe in team China,\" Wang said after his victory.
Switzerland's Noe Roth claimed second place with 126.70 points, while the reigning Olympic champion Qi Guangpu of China scored 122.62 points, earning third place. Despite not finishing on the podium, Qi retains the yellow World Cup overall leader's bib and is poised to take the season title at the final circuit stop in Italy later this month.
In the women's contest, Australia's Laura Peel secured victory with 115.91 points. China's Xu Mengtao took second place with 101.74 points, followed by Australian Danielle Scott in third with 87.06 points. Peel is currently leading the standings by 78 points ahead of Xu and is in a prime position to secure the season's Crystal Globe at the final event in Livigno, Italy scheduled for March 11th to 13th.
The Freestyle Skiing World Cup circuit will conclude its season in Europe with the final stop at the 2026 Olympic test event in Livigno. Athletes and enthusiasts alike anticipate a thrilling conclusion to the competition as rankings continue to solidify leading into the final stages.
