Peel back on top with World Cup title, Roth clinches first win in two years
Mar 13, 2025·Freestyle)
Shortly before taking the hill for the finals of the Aerials World Cup in Livigno, Laura Peel said she would ski to win, but without any pressure.
After all, she had already locked in the Crystal Globe just by making the cut, and any result would simply be a bonus.
The Australian veteran certainly looked like she competed with no burden, stomping a back full-full-full in the superfinal to win with 112.90 points.
It put her on top of the field in Livigno, but also head and shoulders above the competition for the entire season.
This was Peel’s fifth win of the season, as well as her third career Crystal Globe, coming after previous titles in 2020 and 2021.
“I’m so stoked, I don’t know what to say. It couldn’t have been better,” said the 35-year-old, who sat out most of last season’s World Cup.
The tricky conditions of the day, with strong winds and slushy snow, only made things tougher to navigate for the contenders.
Said Peel: “Honestly, I was just thinking about my take off. It was pretty windy up there. It didn’t seem to affect the speed too much, but it was a bit of a process.”
Success on the same slopes that will host Milan-Cortina 2026 in a year’s time will no doubt be a huge confidence booster for Peel, who is still in the hunt for her first Olympic medal.
All top three skiers of the day executed the back full-full-full. Xu Mengtao (CHN) posted a jump of 105.17 points to take second place, while Chen Meiting (CHN) was third with 91.44 points.
Roth delivers clutch jump for season’s first win
Meanwhile, the men’s competition blew wide open after Qi Guangpu (CHN), who had been leading the World Cup standings, crashed out in qualifications.
It gave Noe Roth (SUI) an opening, and the Swiss certainly capitalised on the chance.
With a highly demanding back double full-double full-full, he achieved a massive score of 130.05 points to take first place, and leapfrog Qi to take the season title.
The victory was a huge occasion for Roth – this was his first World Cup win of the season, and a first in more than two years.
“Amazing. I was so nervous up there,” said Roth.
Sun Jiaxu (CHN) took second place with 113.73 points. Permin Werner (SUI), who has endured a trying season, took his first podium finish of the year with a third-placed 113.00 effort.
Roth was certainly delighted to share the podium with his teammate, saying: “Permin had a bit of a hard season. To end it like this, it’s so good.”
Both Roth and Qi finished with 400 points on the overall standings, though the Crystal Globe went to China’s reigning Olympic champion having had more victories this season.
Wang Xindi (CHN) took third place on the overall standings, with 304 points.
On the women’s side, China’s reigning Olympic champion Xu was second overall with 444 points, behind Peel’s 542. Danielle Scott (AUS), last season’s champion, finished third with 368 points.
The Rookie of the Year awards went to Alexandra Montminy (CAN) and Ian Schoenwald (USA), while China took home the Nations Cup for their overall performance as a team.
QUICK LINKS
Livigno World Cup FIS data page (start lists, results, etc)
Photos: Aerials
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