Less than perfect weather conditions didn't hinder perfect jumps and landings by Canadian David Belheumer and Australian Jacqui Cooper, who each won aerial events Saturday at the Sprint U.S. Freestyle Grand National. He nailed the landing for a winning score of 122.15. Nicolas Fontaine of Canada, the reigning World Cup aerials champion for the past three seasons, took third with a 101.01. Fontained smacked his head upon landing the same jump Belheumer and Rijavek performed, but was alright. I was nervous, but you just reach a point when you have to go for it.
Cooper is the only woman in the world to consistently nail triple somersaults.
She is no stranger to victory as she was first in World Cup aerials and overall points last season. She has eight World Cup wins to her credit. Originally a gymnast, Cooper trains at the Utah Winter Sports Park in Park City. Veronica Brenner of Canada was second with a 88.04 and Norway's Hilde Lid finished third, posting a 77.56. The Sprint U.S. Freestyle Grand National moves to Heavenly, CA January 21-23.