China’s Gu Ailing made a sensational start to her 2024-25 season, claiming victory in the women’s slopestyle final at the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Laax, Switzerland, on Friday.
In her first slopestyle appearance of the World Cup season, Gu dazzled the audience with an impressive performance, earning a top score of 81.22 points. Canada’s Megan Oldham secured the silver with 72.80 points, while Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud took bronze with 72.59 points.
This win marks a significant milestone for Gu as she aims to secure qualification for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Under the new Olympic qualification system, slopestyle and big air are combined into a single discipline, allowing athletes to secure only one quota spot for their National or Regional Olympic Committee across both events. Gu’s triumph in Laax positions her favorably in the race for Olympic qualification.
Gu has openly expressed her ambition to compete in all three freeski park and pipe events—slopestyle, halfpipe, and big air—at the upcoming Winter Olympics. By clinching gold in Laax, she has taken a substantial step toward realizing her goal of full participation in every freeski discipline.
“Competing in all three events has always been my dream,” Gu shared after her victory. “I’m thrilled with today’s performance and excited for what’s to come this season.”
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Gu Ailing wins gold in her 2024-25 season World Cup slopestyle debut
cgtn.com
