Industry News
The New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) announces the return of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) iFIT Freestyle Aerials World Cup to the Olympic Jumping Complex on January 18-19, 2025. This marks the event’s first appearance in Lake Placid since 2019.
The two-day competition will feature men’s and women’s individual events and a mixed team event under the lights. Renowned as a captivating spectator sport, freestyle aerials showcases world class athletes launching high into the night sky to perform acrobatic twists, turns, and flips before landing in a confined outrun area lined with hordes of cheering fans. Excitement builds and level of difficulty increases as the field narrows into a final group of six who compete for podium positions and additional World Cup points. In Sunday’s mixed team event, three jumpers – at least one of each gender – represent their nations in pursuit of the top prize. Team USA, the defending Olympic champion in the mixed event, is among the favorites in Lake Placid.
Lake Placid, a regular stop on the FIS Aerials World Cup circuit between 1985 and 2019, is the opening event on the 2024-25 FIS Aerials World Cup calendar. The remainder of the season includes a World Cup stop at the 2026 Olympic venue in Livigno, Italy and wraps up March 17-30 with World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland.
Event Details:
* What: FIS iFIT Freestyle Aerials World Cup
* When: January 18-19, 2025
* Where: Olympic Jumping Complex, Lake Placid, N.Y.
Competition Schedule:
Saturday, January 18
* 12:30-1:15 p.m.: Women’s Aerial Warm-Up
* 1:20-2 p.m.: Women’s Qualifications
* 2:15-3:25 p.m.: Men’s Aerial Warm-Up
* 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Men’s Qualifications
* 6-6:45 p.m.: Finalists’ Warm-Up
* 7-8:06 p.m.: Women’s and Men’s Aerial Finals (Rounds 1 & 2)
* 8:10-8:18 p.m.: Awards Ceremonies
Sunday, January 19
* 5:15-6:45 p.m.: Mixed Team Warm-Up
* 7-8:05 p.m.: Mixed Team Competition (Rounds 1 & 2)
* 8:13-8:23 p.m.: Awards Ceremonies
Spectator Information:
* Gates open to ticketed guests at 5 p.m. each day; competitions begin at 7 p.m.
* Food, beverages, music, and entertainment will be available, creating a family-friendly atmosphere for all ages.
* The Olympic Jumping Complex will be open for regular operations from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. prior to the start of the World Cup competitions.
Athletes to Watch: The U.S. Aerials Team has enjoyed success throughout the years, capturing the gold medal in the inaugural Olympic aerials mixed team event at the 2022 Beijing Games. U.S. athletes to watch in Lake Placid include Chris Lillis, Winter Vinecki, Quinn Dehlinger, and Justin Schoenefeld. International athletes to look out for are last season’s Crystal Globe winners Danielle Scott of Australia and reigning Olympic champion Qi Guangpu of China.
Background: Freestyle Aerials, a Winter Olympic discipline since the 1994 Lillehammer Games, captivates audiences with its high-flying flips and twists. Athletes are judged on air, form, and landing precision. Lake Placid’s Olympic Jumping Complex, one of the few venues in the U.S. with year-round aerial training facilities, has hosted FIS Aerials World Cups and other major freestyle skiing events since the 1980s. During Lake Placid’s run of FIS Freestyle World Cups between 1985 and 2019, the aerials competition would take place at the Olympic Jumping Complex with the moguls at Whiteface Mountain on consecutive days.
