Lillis Lands a Top Five in Moscow

MOSCOW (March 4, 2017) – The U.S. Ski Team aerials athletes took their last jumps of the World Cup season Saturday night in front of thousands of fans in Moscow. Jon Lillis (Rochester, NY) earned the top finish for the U.S. team, landing just off the podium in fourth.

Lillis and teammate Mac Bohonnon (Madison, CT) jumped strong in the qualifying and final rounds to advance through to the super finals. After scoring a 121.24 on his full, double full, full in finals, Lillis was shooting for the podium. But he was unable to land clean on his super final jump, a full, full, double full. Lillis’ fourth was his third top-five finish of the season.

“I was able to keep my take off consistent in all of my contest jumps tonight,” said Lillis. “My landing was very strong on my first two jumps. My ability to slow down my flips came into play. I missed the landing on the last one, but I’m still happy to earn another top five result.”

Bohonnon, who suffered a hard-hitting crash in super finals, wrapped up his season with a sixth-place finish. Lillis’ younger brother Chris was 10th. China’s Zhou Hang took the win for the men, followed by Maxim Gustik of Belarus in second and Russia’s Maxim Burov in third.

On the women’s side, Kiley McKinnon (Madison, CT) and Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA) just missed out on making the super final rounds, finishing seventh and eighth respectively. Australia’s Lydia Lassila landed her third win of the season, followed by China’s Xu Mengtao in second and Lassila’s teammate Laura Peel in third.

The men’s aerials World Cup title was awarded to China’s Qi Guangpu, who secured the title at last weekend’s competition in Belarus. With four top-five finishes, including two podiums, Bohonnon was able to finish the season ranked second in the World Cup standings. Lillis and Alex Bowen (Springville, NY) finished the season ranked eighth and 10th. Coming into Moscow, the women’s aerials title was hotly contested between Australia’s Danielle Scott and Mengtao. With her second-place finish, Mengtao was able to secure the crystal globe. McKinnon and Caldwell finished out the season ranked ninth and 10th respectively.

Chris Lillis (Rochester, NY), who won his first World Cup last year, saw another successful season on the World Cup. His five top-10 finishes this season landed him the 2017 FIS Rookie of the Year award. The U.S. team also finished second in the Nation’s Cup standings.


Chris Lillis accepts his Rookie of the Year award alongside China's Shen Xiaoxue. (FIS Freestyle)

“Everyone on the team had their own different taste of success this season,” said head aerials coach Todd Ossian. “We finished second in the Nation’s Cup standings, Mac finished the season ranked second in the world and Chris brought home the Rookie of the Year award. We’re proud of what we accomplished this season. We feel completely read to perform at World Championships this coming week and have a lot of motivation to work hard this summer and get ready for the Olympic season.”

Aerials teams will now turn their focus to the 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships, scheduled for March 7-19 in Sierra Nevada, Spain. The U.S. Ski Team’s moguls and aerials rosters will be announced Monday, March 6.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Jon Lillis was the top American athlete in the final aerials World Cup of the season, finishing just off the podium in fourth.
• Mac Bohonnon was sixth and Chris Lillis 10th.
• Kiley McKinnon and Ashley Caldwell just missed the super final rounds, finishing seventh and eighth.
• China’s Qi Guangpu and Xu Mengtao were awarded the aerials World Cup titles.
• Bohonnon finished the season ranked second in the World Cup standings.
• Chris Lillis took home the FIS Rookie of the Year award.
• The U.S. team finished second in the Nation’s Cup standings.
• The next competition for the team is the 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships March 7-19 in Sierra Nevada, Spain.
• The U.S. Ski Team’s moguls and aerials Worlds roster will be announced Monday, March 6.

QUOTES

Jon Lillis
I was able to keep my take off consistent in all of my contest jumps tonight. My landing was very strong on my first two jumps. My ability to slow down my flips really came into play. I missed the landing on the last one, but I’m still happy to earn another top five result.

Todd Ossian, Head Aerials Coach
Everyone on the team had their own different taste of success this season. We finished second in the Nation’s Cup standings, Mac finished the season ranked second in the world and Chris brought home the Rookie of the Year award. We’re proud of what we accomplished this season. We feel completely read to perform at World Championships this coming week and have a lot of motivation to work hard this summer and get ready for the Olympic season.

RESULTS
Men’s Results
Women’s Results
Men’s Overall World Cup Standings
Women’s Overall World Cup Standings