World Cup aerialists compete in Moscow, Russia on Saturday. (photo: FIS)

Lillis Lands a Top Five in Moscow

Moscow, Russia – The U.S. Ski Team aerials athletes took their last jumps of the World Cup season on Saturday night in front of thousands of fans in Moscow. China’s Zhou Hang took the win for the men, followed by Maxim Gustik of Belarus in second and Russia’s Maxim Burov in third. Australia’s Lydia Lassila landed her third win of the season to top the women’s field, followed by China’s Xu Mengtao in second and Lassila’s teammate Laura Peel in third.

Jon Lillis, of Rochester, N.Y., earned the top finish for the U.S. team, landing just off the podium in fourth. Lillis and teammate Mac Bohonnon, of Madison, Conn., jumped strong in the qualifying and final rounds to advance through to the super finals. After scoring a 121.24 on his full, double full, full in finals, Lillis was shooting for the podium. But he was unable to land clean on his super final jump, a full, full, double full. Lillis’ fourth was his third top-five finish of the season.

“I was able to keep my take off consistent in all of my contest jumps tonight,” said Lillis. “My landing was very strong on my first two jumps. My ability to slow down my flips came into play. I missed the landing on the last one, but I’m still happy to earn another top five result.”

Bohonnon, who suffered a hard-hitting crash in super finals, wrapped up his season with a sixth-place finish. Lillis’ younger brother Chris was 10th.

On the women’s side, Kiley McKinnon, of Madison, Conn., and Virginia’s Ashley Caldwell just missed out on making the super final rounds, finishing seventh and eighth, respectively.

The men’s aerials World Cup title was awarded to China’s Qi Guangpu, who secured the title at last weekend’s competition in Belarus. With four top-five finishes, including two podiums, Bohonnon was able to finish the season ranked second in the World Cup standings. Lillis and Alex Bowen, of Springville, N.Y., finished the season ranked eighth and 10th, respectively.

World Cup aerialists compete in Moscow, Russia on Saturday. (photo: FIS)
World Cup aerialists compete in Moscow, Russia on Saturday. (photo: FIS)

Coming into Moscow, the women’s aerials title was hotly contested between Australia’s Danielle Scott and Mengtao. With her second-place finish, Mengtao was able to secure the crystal globe. McKinnon and Caldwell finished out the season ranked ninth and 10th, respectively.

Chris Lillis’ five top-10 finishes this season landed him the 2017 FIS Rookie of the Year award. The U.S. team also finished second in the Nation’s Cup standings.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup
Moscow, Russia – Mar. 4, 2017

Men’s Aerials

Rank Name Year Result FIS Points WC Points
 1 ZHOU Hang 1993  125.22  1000.00  100.00
 2 GUSTIK Maxim 1988  110.97  800.00  80.00
 3 BUROV Maxim 1998  106.79  600.00  60.00
 4 LILLIS Jonathon 1994  92.76  500.00  50.00
 5 WANG Xindi 1995  92.68  450.00  45.00
 6 BOHONNON Mac 1995  58.85  400.00  40.00
 7 TABARA Naoya 1980  110.18  360.00  36.00
 8 ISLER Dimitri 1993  85.84  320.00  32.00
 9 WU Shudi 1994  83.19  290.00  29.00
 10 LILLIS Christopher 1998  76.11  260.00  26.00

Women’s Aerials

Rank Name Nation Result FIS Points WC Points
 1 LASSILA Lydia AUS  100.11  1000.00  100.00
 2 XU Mengtao CHN  94.11  800.00  80.00
 3 PEEL Laura AUS  87.06  600.00  60.00
 4 ORLOVA Alexandra RUS  80.33  500.00  50.00
 5 SCOTT Danielle AUS  66.62  450.00  45.00
 6 SPIRIDONOVA Kristina RUS  64.89  400.00  40.00
 7 MCKINNON Kiley USA  84.42  360.00  36.00
 8 CALDWELL Ashley USA  81.70  320.00  32.00
 9 RAMANOUSKAYA Aliaksandra BLR  79.06  290.00  29.00
 10 POLYUK Olga UKR  59.22  260.00  26.00

Leave a Reply