Chinese freestyle skier Sun Jiaxu claimed victory in the men's aerials event at the FIS Freeski World Cup in Lac Beauport, Canada, on January 7, 2026, delivering a career-best performance that secured China's first gold of the season. The 24-year-old stunned judges with a technically demanding back full-double full-double full maneuver, earning 131.58 points in the decisive second round.
Teammate Li Tianma joined Sun on the podium with a silver medal after executing a near-flawless back double full-double full-full jump. The results reinforce China's dominance in aerial skiing, with three athletes finishing in the top eight. Switzerland's Noe Roth completed the men's podium with bronze.
In the women's competition, Australia's Laura Peel took gold while Chinese Olympic champion Xu Mengtao battled through early challenges to secure bronze. "This result gives me confidence as we build toward future competitions," Xu told reporters after her comeback performance.
The World Cup circuit now moves to Lake Placid, USA, where athletes will compete in back-to-back events on January 11-12. Analysts predict Sun's recent victory could position him as a strong contender for China's 2026 Winter Olympic team.
