Practice makes perfect for Gu Ailing in Winter Youth Olympics Halfpipe

LEYSIN, Switzerland - China's Gu Ailing took gold in the Women's Halfpipe event at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne on Monday.

The Chinese youngster secured the win with her second run in the Women's Halfpipe finals, setting the event's highest score of 93.00 points.

Gu's compatriot Li Fanghui ensured it was a one-two finish for China with 85.66 points, with the United States' Hanna Faulhaber taking third place with 77.33 points.

Having already secured the gold medal before her final run, Gu then elected to focus on landing tricks with higher difficulties, and still scored 90.00 even after a small mistake.

"I was happy, I just wanted to test my new trick," said the new champion.

Well-known as a slopestyle expert, Gu admitted she rarely practises Halfpipe. "The [halfpipe] venues are hard to find, so I always do 'match practice'."

The champion said she developed new tricks only last week while training at Chongli's Secret Garden resort, which was her only training opportunity during the previous year.

"I performed those tricks neat and nice today. Every time I am in competitions, I can master several new skills," she said.

Meanwhile, second-placed Li said she had showed improvement in today's event, finishing her first and second runs cleanly while endeavoring to increase her jumping height.

The silver medalist tumbled in her third run, but had already guaranteed second place beforehand.

"The result was good, but I still need to improve my landing stability," said Li.

At the mix-start (with Freestyle Skiing) Snowboard Halfpipe event, Japan's Mitsuki Ono and Manon Kaji took gold and silver respectively.

Posting 95.33 in her third run, Mitsuki was the only participant to score above 90 during the whole event. Kaji was second with 85.33, and Switzerland's Berenice Wicki finished third with a score of 81.33.