Winter Vinecki wins women’s world cup, Connor Curran lands in 2nd for men’s aerials at Deer Valley

Winter Vinecki (USA) won first place in the Deer Valley FIS Frestyle World Cup Aerials Competition. Danielle Scott (AUS) took second and Abbey Willcox (AUS) placed third. Photo: Tyson Bolduc

PARK CITY, Utah — U.S. Ski Team athletes Winter Vinecki and Connor Curren placed first and second in their respective aerials World Cup competitions under the lights, in front of a huge crowd at Deer Valley Resort on Friday night. 

2022 Olympian Vinecki got 81.90 points for her first of two runs jumping a back, double Full, Full. 

The sport of aerials is judged on air, form, and landing. It’s all subjective, whereas moguls has subjective judging but also has objective timing. 

At the Press Conference on Wednesday, she had to leave early to be on time for her law school classes online from Texas. Her Dad passed away from prostate cancer when she was nine and he was 41, so she uses her platform to raise awareness. Donations may be made here. Vinecki has lived in Park City for a decade and skied for Team Fly Freestyle after growing up in Michigan.

Danielle Scott of Australia got second scoring her highest in the first run with a 87.57 and her teammate Abbey Wilcox got a 76.85 in her second run.

Mehting Chen of China got fourth and USA Teammates Taisa Tanner and Kaila Kuhn placed fifth and sixth. Tanner’s family only had to drive up from their home in Salt Lake City to cheer her on. She’s Park City Ski and Snowboard Team (PCSS) Fly Freestyle, when not attending the University of Utah after going to high school at Romark Ski Academy.

Kuhn skis for the PCSS Elite Aerials Development Team, and hails from Michigan.

For the men, second place went to Connor Curran. Fans had to scroll down a bit to the “D” Team on the U.S. Ski Team Aerialists website to learn that he’s from Ohio originally and skied for PCSS while matriculating at the U of U. He had a monster second run with a 102.22 points for his back Full, double Full jump.

Curren trains at the Utah Olympic Park (UOP) in the summers on the water ramps landing into the pool to practice safe landings over, and over, and over again before trying new tricks on less forgiving snow.

First place was Canada’s Alexandre Duchaine with both highest scoring runs of the finals at 97.29 and a 102.57 for his back double Full, double Full.

Guangpu Qi of China came in third. 

USA athletes and Olympic Gold medalists Chris Lillis and Ian Schoenwald came in fourth and sixth respectively with China’s Xindi Wang landing in  the fourth place.

One more day will bring the Dual Moguls on Saturday.