Nick back on top, Burov secures the title in Minsk
Jan 31, 2021·Freestyle
A standout night of FIS Freestyle Ski Aerials World Cup action went down under the lights in the capital city of Belarus on Saturday evening, where USA’s Megan Nick led the charge on the women’s side of the event, while Russia’s Maxim Burov claimed his fifth victory of the season in the men’s competition, while also securing the aerials World Cup title in the process.
Just a week removed from a successful competition in Moscow, the aerials World Cup tour was back in action this weekend at the renowned venue at the Olympic Sports Complex Raubichi. Located just outside of Minsk the Belarus’ top sport facility has a long history of hosting FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup events, with the first competition in Minsk dating back to 2011.
Again this year the organiser stood up to the task and delivered a top-tier event, while mother nature also played along by providing perfect conditions to wrap up an exciting European three-week streak of aerials World Cup competitions on a high.
In the women’s competition it was Megan Nick who earned top honours on the day, claiming her second victory of the season.
In the big final the 24-year-old stomped an impressive full-double full, the trick she performed in competition for the first time in Yaroslavl last week. Nick received a score of 89.88 points to put herself in the hot seat with only three more athletes left in the competition.
Dropping in next was the Belarusian duo of the respective 2018 and 2014 Olympic Champions in Hanna Huskova and Alla Tsuper. Huskova decided to play it safe with a lay-full, while Tsuper couldn’t quite put down a full-tuck-full to her feet, thus ending the local fans’ hopes of having two Belarusian athletes on the podium.
Finally it was time for Australia’s Laura Peel to take it to the skies above Raubichi for the final jump of the women’s competition. Peel performed another full-tuck-full, and while she was incredibly impressive in the air, she also wasn’t able to put the landing gear down cleanly, with a hand-drag on the landing that would ultimately be reflected in the final score for the Australian skier. Peel’s score would come at 89.04 - less than a point off of Nick’s mark - forcing the reigning crystal globe winner to settle for second place on the day.
The good news kept coming for the USA, with Winter Vinecki rounding out the women’s podium in third place with a score of 88.12 points for her double full-full. Vinecki claimed her second top-3 finish in just over a week, after she took her career’s first World Cup win last week in Moscow.
In the World Cup rankings Peel maintained her top spot, leading the way with 370 points after five individual events. Vinecki follows behind in second place with 263 points, while Nick has now moved into third place with 238 points.
Over in the men’s event, Maxim Burov shined once again as he continued what has been one of the most dominant men’s aerials seasons of the past decade. Putting down the high score in both final rounds of Saturday’s competition, Burov was able to extended his winning streak to an incredible five consecutive World Cup victories.
Dropping as the last man in the big final, Burov stomped a textbook double full-full-full and as soon as he put it down to his feet it was clear that the 22-year-old would walk away with another huge win. Earning a score of 126.24 points as the top mark of the night sealed secured not only the victory in Minsk for Burov, but also his second career aerials World Cup crystal globe, as despite the fact there are still two more events left in the season, Burov’s 500 points is now untouchable.
Completing the 1-2 punch for the Russian Aerials Team in second place was Stanislav Nikitin, who claimed his second top-3 finish of the season on the strength of the 124.43 points earned for his double full-full-full.
Third place on the day went to Canada’s Lewis Irving, who was also taking home his second World Cup podium of the 2020/21 season. Irving received a score 118.14 points for his full double full-full.
In the men’s aerials World Cup standing Burov has locked up the crystal globe with a perfect score of 500 points. Pavel Krotov (RUS), who didn’t compete in Minsk, sits well back of his teammate Burov in second place with 232 points, while Stanislav Nikitin rounds out the top-3 domination for the Russian team with 212 points.
The FIS Freestyle Ski Aerials World Cup tour will now travel to Deer Valley (USA), where the sixth individual World Cup competition of the season is slated to go down on Saturday, February 6.
QUICK LINKS:
Minsk Raubichi World Cup data page (startlists, live timing, results)
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