Canadian ski leaping sensation Alexandria Loutitt claimed her second profession World Cup victory on Saturday with a gold medal within the girls’s giant hill occasion in Zao, Japan, close to Sapporo.
The Calgary native earned a complete of 266.4 factors to succeed in her first podium of the season together with her dad and mom on-hand to observe.
“I feel my dad and mom are my fortunate charms. Each time my dad and mom are at an occasion, I are likely to do rather well,” Loutitt mentioned in a press launch.
Struggling to seek out her finest this season, Loutitt discovered her mojo on Saturday. The 21-year-old led the competitors by 2.4 factors after the opening spherical with 129.2 factors, earlier than securing the win with a stellar second leap of 137.2.
“It isn’t a secret that I’ve struggled so much this season, however coming again to my assist system and my group has actually helped me get issues again collectively and heading in the right direction,” mentioned Loutitt, who now has 9 World Cup medals.
Loutitt grew to become Canada’s first-ever ski leaping world champion two years in the past in the identical occasion, which is able to make its Olympic debut at Milano-Cortina 2026 alongside the traditional hill competitors.
She spends the majority of her 12 months away from house since facility closures pressured Ski Leaping Canada’s nationwide program to relocate to Planica, Slovenia three years in the past.
Her first World Cup victory additionally got here on the towers in Zao in 2023.
Canada’s girl leapers additionally shocked the world at Beijing 2022 after they received Canada’s first-ever Olympic medal within the sport within the combined group occasion.
Strate was nineteenth on Saturday with 213.5 factors, whereas Nicole Maurer, an aspiring astronaut from Calgary, was twenty sixth with 180.7 factors.
One other giant hill occasion is ready for Sunday.
