Chongli: China's Olympic champion Gu Ailing claimed the women's halfpipe gold with a stunning last run at the FIS Freeski World Cup here on Saturday, while Finley Melville Ives of New Zealand took the men's title.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Gu competed in front of a cheering home crowd amid flying snowflakes, initially posting a score of 85.25 points in her first run, which placed her behind Britain's reigning world champion Zoe Atkin, who led with 90.25. While Atkin did not improve her score in the second run, Gu, skiing last, delivered a 91.75 run to seal the victory.
"I changed up my tricks during training. So I think the main focus for me today was psychological," said Gu, who claimed her third consecutive World Cup title in Chongli. "It was a new challenge. I feel like I believe in myself more and have managed to overcome some difficulties."
Gu also mentioned that the strong wind was a significant factor during her performance, adding that she felt quite scared and had to rely on mental toughness, emphasizing that confidence is something built through practice.
Chinese teammates Zhang Kexin and Li Fanghui finished fifth and ninth, respectively. Zhang, who underwent knee surgery in July, stated, "I'm still in a recovery phase and approached these competitions with that mindset. The goal is to progress step by step, building back from this first World Cup event and gradually improving all the way until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics."
Zhang also noted her mental maturity compared to previous Olympic Games, acknowledging the significant challenges she faced, especially injuries, which initially shook her confidence. This competition, however, has helped her start to regain some of that belief.
In the men's event, world champion Melville Ives was consistent across both runs, scoring 90.00 each time to secure the gold. Qualification leader Luke Harrold improved from 88.00 to 89.00 in his final attempt but could not surpass his compatriot, taking silver. American skier Hunter Hess earned the bronze.