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Northrop and Lillis Lead U.S. at Deer Valley

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
February, 4 2016

PARK CITY, UT (February 4, 2016) – Morgan Northrop (Haymarket, VA) and Chris Lillis (Pittsford, NY) each scored career-best World Cup results to lead four Americans in the finals Thursday at the Visa Freestyle International Aerial World Cup.

Overall World Cup leader, Guangpu Qi of China won the men’s event. Olivier Rochon of Canada was second, followed by Oleksandr Abramenk of the Ukraine in third. For the women, Yu Yang took the win, followed by Samantha Wells of Australia in second, and Alexandra Orlova from Russia in third.

Northrop, competing in her first World Cup event in two years due to an elbow injury, pulled a new trick out of her bag, a full-full, to finish sixth Thursday in the first of two World Cup aerials events at Deer Valley this week.

“I competed a new trick that I have never done before. I tried it yesterday and got three off, then tried it again today,” Northrop said. “It was my first World Cup back in two years, it’s on home turf, and it’s just awesome.”

Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA), the overall World Cup leader coming into Thursday’s third of seven World Cup events scheduled for this season, continued to push the envelope as the only woman to attempt a triple (full-full-full).

“Go big or go home!” said Caldwell, the top qualifier, after coming up short on the landing in the finals. “I’m trying to build up my consistency. The jump has a lot of reward, but it also has a lot of risk. There is a learning curve to it and I crash a lot, but I like making it a priority to get triples off all the time."

“I could win with a lower a lower degree of difficulty, but I’m trying to create a different standard for myself, and that means I crash sometimes,” she added.

Chris

Christopher Lillis jumps to ninth place at the Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley Thursday in Park City, Utah. (Getty Images-Doug Pensinger)

Lillis, making his World Cup debut, stomped his landings on a lay-double-full-full to finish ninth.

“I couldn’t be happier with how I did today; just happy that I put it down when I needed too,” said Lillis, who’s following in the footsteps of his older brother Jon, a five-year member of the U.S. Team. “My older brother has always kind of taught me as I went along and inspired me to try harder, and maybe catch up to him one day.”

Thursday’s event was reschedule for Deer Valley due to lack of snow at Lake Placid, New York last month, which provided the athletes and extended break from competition.

“I’m really thankful they (moved the event to Deer Valley). We love going to Lake Placid, but we haven’t been able to jump (in competition) for almost a month and a half, so we’re ready for more contests,” said Alex Bowen (Springville, NY), who also posted one of his World Cup results in 10th place. “It was really nice that Deer Valley did this for us. ”

The Visa Freestyle International continues Friday with the fourth aerials World Cup event of the season at Deer Valley.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Chris Lillis, making his World Cup debut, finished ninth Thursday in the Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley Resort.
  • Morgan Northrop, competing in her first World Cup event in two years, posted a career-best result in sixth.
  • Ashley Caldwell, the overall World Cup leader coming into Thursday’s event, was the only woman to attempt a triple.
  • Alex Bowen scored his best result of the season in 10th place.

 

QUOTES

Chris Lillis
I couldn’t be happier with how I did today; just happy that I put it down when I needed too.

My older brother has always kind of taught me as I went along and inspired me to try harder, and maybe catch up to him one day. And my younger brother, has kind of followed us, so it’s just a great family thing.

Ashley Caldwell
Go big or go home! I’m trying to build up my consistency. The jump has a lot of reward, but it also has a lot of risk. There is a learning curve to it and I crash a lot, but I like making it a priority to get triples off all the time.

I could win with a lower a lower degree of difficulty, but I’m trying to create a different standard for myself, and that means I crash sometimes.

Morgan Northrop
It was my first World Cup back in two years, it’s on home turf, and it’s just awesome.

I competed a new trick that I have never done before. I tried it yesterday and got three of, then tried it again today.  I’m just trying to have fun with it, keep it pretty mellow and stay focused. I’m just really excited. My family is here and it’s just a great day.

Alex Bowen
I’m really thankful they (moved the event to Deer Valley). We love going to Lake Placid, but we haven’t been able to jump (in competition) for almost a month and a half, so we’re ready for more contests. So it was nice that Deer Valley did this for us. I was happy. I scored my best result of the year.

EVENT SCHEDULE (Times MST)

Friday, Feb. 5
2:45 p.m. – Women’s Aerials Qualifications
5:00 p.m. – Men’s Aerials Qualifications
8:00 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Aerials Finals

Saturday, Feb. 6
4:55 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Qualifications
7:00 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Finals

LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE (Times EST)
Fans can watch the Visa Freestyle International in spectacular high definition via NBC Sports Live Extra online at NBCSports.com/LiveExtra, or through the Live Extra app on mobile, tablet and through the Apple TV or Roku connected TV devices.
Friday, Feb. 5 – 9:50 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Aerials Finals
Saturday, Feb. 6 – 8:50 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Finals

TV SCHEDULE (Times EST)
Saturday, Feb. 7 – 4:00 p.m. – Moguls/Aerials – NBCSN
Sunday, Feb. 11 – 10:00 p.m. – Aerials – NBCSN
Sunday, Feb. 14 – 2:30 p.m. – Dual Moguls – NBC

RESULTS
Women’s aerials
Men’s aerials