Aerial Podiums All Around in Moscow
MOSCOW, Russia (Feb. 21, 2015) – Just three weeks after winning his first World Cup in front of a hometown crowd in Lake Placid, NY, Mac Bohonnon (Madison, CT) jumped to his second consecutive World Cup win atop a scaffolding set up in the streets of Moscow. Teammates Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA) and Kiley McKinnon (Madison, CT) also landed on the podium for the U.S., finishing second and third respectively in front of the thousands of fans gathered just outside the city center to watch the competition.
Kiley McKinnon (left) and Ashley Caldwell (right) were on the podium together for the second time this season.
Bohonnon was on the hunt for a win, qualifying for the finals in the first position with a double full, full, full and a score of 124.89. Russia’s Ilya Burov came out strong in final one, scoring the highest jump, with Bohonnon sitting in second. It came down to the third and final jump. Burov and Bohonnon threw the same jump—a double full, full, full—but it was Bohonnon who walked away with the win. The win also moves Bohonnon up to second in the World Cup rankings, just 29 points behind Qi Guangpu of China.
“I reminded myself that I’d done that jump a few times before and I’d been in that position a few times before,” said Bohonnon. “Nothing else mattered but the technical part of my jump. Todd Ossian [our head coach] was up at the top with us and he and Matt Saunders nailed the speed. I was right in the right spot. They were very reassuring and let me know I had nothing to worry about expect the jump and what I had to do. It was a lot of fun.”
Caldwell and McKinnon stood on the podium together for the second time this season, after finishing first and second place last month in Deer Valley. This time they took second and third respectively, with Australia’s Danielle Scott winning the competition. After a hard crash during training at the Lake Placid World Cup, Caldwell opted to sit out of finals. But she brought her A game this week and enjoyed the rocking atmosphere in Moscow.
The aerials team celebrates in Moscow after landing three athletes on the podium. (U.S. Freestyle Ski Team)
“Having my teammates up at the top to dance party with before I go is almost vital now for me to do sweet jumps,” said Caldwell. “It’s really awesome to be on the podium with my teammates. Our whole team is capable of being on the podium on any given day and it’s really cool when it happens.”
There’s no doubt that McKinnon is having the best season of her career. She has four World Cup podiums, a silver medal from the 2015 FIS Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships and took the lead in the overall World Cup standings after the Lake Placid World Cup—the first time a U.S. woman has done so since Nikki Stone won the World Cup in 1998. With only one World Cup left in the 2015 season, she’s in contention to take home the yellow bib.
“It’s been a great season. I wasn’t expecting to do this well, “ said McKinnon. “Every competition has been amazing, and I’m just hoping that I can continue through this last World Cup in Minsk and finish out the season well.”
Jon Lillis (Rochester, NY) and Mike Rossi (Long Valley, NJ) put up top 10 results, finishing in eighth and ninth. Kendal Johnson (McFarland, WI) was 13th, Alex Bowen (Springville, NY) 17th and Eric Loughran (Pelham, NH) 18th to round out a solid U.S. performance.
The final aerial World Cup of the season takes place in Minsk, Belarus on March 1.
Women’s Results
Men’s Results
Women’s Aerial World Cup Standings
Men’s Aerial World Cup Standings
HIGHLIGHTS
- Mac Bohonnon claimed his second consecutive World Cup victory over Russian Ilya Burov.
- Ashley Caldwell and Kiley McKinnon were on the podium together for the second time this season, finishing second and third behind Australia’s Danielle Scott.
- Bohonnon moved up to second in the overall World Cup rankings while McKinnon maintained her lead.
- Fellow teammates Jon Lillis, Mike Rossi, Kendal Johnson, Alex Bowen and Eric Loughran finished eighth, ninth, 13th, 17th and 18th, respectively.
QUOTES
Ashley Caldwell
Having my teammates up at the top to dance party with before I go is almost vital now for me to do sweet jumps. It’s really awesome to be on the podium with my teammates. Our whole team is capable of being on the podium on any given day and it’s really cool when it happens and I can’t wait for more of it.
It’s been an epic season. I’m really excited we have such a great team going into the last World Cup. Regardless of what happens there, I don’t think anyone will be disappointed with how our team has performed this year.
Kiley McKinnon
It’s been a great season. I wasn’t expecting to do this well. Every competition has been amazing, and I’m just hoping that I can continue through this last World Cup in Minsk and finish out the season well. The atmosphere in Moscow was amazing. The crowd was huge and the music was blasting. It was so cool.
Mac Bohonnon
I reminded myself that I’d done that jump a few times before and I’d been in that position a few times before. Nothing else mattered but the technical part of my jump. Todd Ossian [our head coach] was up at the top with us and he and Matt Saunders nailed the speed. I was right in the right spot. They were very reassuring and let me know I had nothing to worry about expect the jump and what I had to do. It was a lot of fun.
I wasn’t expecting to get another win. After Lake Placid, I’ve thought about winning a little bit more than I normally would because that was a realization that I could win. But I really try and put that all behind me and just focus on the jumping. It’s worked for me in the past and I’m going to continue to try and do that. I don’t focus on the results and let the process happen, and the results have been following.
Todd Ossian, Head Aerial Coach
This was definitely a special night for the aerial team. I am incredibly proud, not just for Mac, Ashley and Kiley, btu the entire crew. This is a really tight team. They are all jumping well and are incredibly supportive of each other. They are all feeding off of the team success. We are on fire right now and can't wait to get to Belarus for our final World Cup of the season.
