CARDRONA, New Zealand: Fresh off celebrating her 21st birthday on September 3, Eileen Gu achieved another remarkable milestone by winning the FIS Women’s Halfpipe World Cup event at the Winter Games New Zealand. This victory marks her 15th World Cup win, setting a new record and solidifying her status as the most successful skier in FIS Freeski World Cup history.
The competition took place at Cardrona’s 22-foot Olympic halfpipe, a venue enhanced by the Cardrona Parks Crew’s meticulous craftsmanship. Despite the challenging weather conditions, including strong winds and heavy snow that limited visibility, Gu’s performance stood out.
After navigating a tough qualifier on Friday, only eight women advanced to the finals, all vying for top honors. Gu demonstrated exceptional skill and composure, delivering three impressive runs that showcased her experience and precision under difficult conditions.
Her first run featured a massive right-side 900, earning her a score of 92.00. She improved on this in her second run, achieving a score of 94.50 with enhanced amplitude and refined execution. By her third run, Gu had already secured her victory, but she delivered a spectacular performance for a memorable finish. Her final run included a series of complex tricks: a right-side cork 9 Buick grab, a left-side cork 9 Japan, a right-side 7 lead tail, a switch left 7 Japan, and a left alley-oop flat spin 540 mute grab. This performance earned her a top score of 96.00, with judges praising her for her “good amplitude, variety of tricks, consistently good grabs, and spinning tricks in four different directions,” according to the Winter Games NZ official press release.
No other competitor in the Women’s Halfpipe field surpassed a score of 90.00 in the finals, highlighting Gu’s dominance in the event. Her extraordinary achievements at the Winter Games NZ further cement her legacy in the sport of freeskiing.
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