This week at the Secret Garden Resort in Zhangjiakou, on the Chinese mainland, the Chongli leg of the FIS Freeski World Cup saw 26 skiers vie for a spot in the women’s halfpipe final. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Gu Ailing opened with a clean, stylish run worth 86.50 points, slotting in just behind teammate Li Fanghui, who posted an early lead of 88.25.
Not content to settle, Gu dialed up the difficulty on her second run, blending higher amplitude with technical flair. Judges rewarded her effort with a stunning 92.75—the top score of the day—securing her the coveted number one seed for Saturday’s final.
Li Fanghui wrapped qualifiers in third overall, while Zhang Kexin grabbed fifth with an 80.25. All three Chinese contenders advance to tomorrow’s medal round. Liu Yishan (11th) and Zhou Siyu (15th) just missed the top-10 cut.
Across G20 nations, digitally savvy fans and winter sports enthusiasts are tuning in to watch Gu’s rise. Her performance on home snow underscores a new era of action sports athletes who combine creativity with athletic prowess.
Tomorrow’s final promises a showcase of cutting-edge tricks and fierce rivalries. Can Gu defend her home advantage and claim another World Cup victory? Don’t miss the live action as the women’s halfpipe final kicks off in Chongli.
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Gu Ailing cruises into women's halfpipe final at FIS Freeski World Cup
cgtn.com
