China’s Ailing Eileen Gu has added another “first” to a career that already seems to be overflowing with them, as the 18-year-old became the first female free skier ever to land a double cork 1440 while training last weekend in Stubai.
After Russia’s Anastasia Tatalina became the first woman in competition to land double cork 1260s in both directions on her way to gold at the Aspen 2021 World Championships last season, the freeski world knew it was only a matter of time before somebody stepped up to add the extra half rotation needed for the 1440.
Last Sunday, Gu became that somebody when she stomped the double-flipping, four-full-rotation trick cleanly at Stubai’s Prime Park Sessions.
