LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Speed, precision and courage are all on display when athletes from around the globe return to Lake Placid, N.Y. and Wilmington, N.Y. to compete in the FIS Putnam Investments Lake Placid Freestyle World Cup. The event, which has been returning to the two-time Olympic village and the Olympic mountain for almost 30 years, comes just one week after these same athletes competed for the title of World Champion in Kreischberg, Austria.

Speed and precision will be highlighted, Thursday, Jan. 29, on Whiteface Mountain’s Wilderness Trail during the men and women’s moguls competitions.

Racing against a clock and under the watchful eye of judges below, skiers will try to tackle a more than 230 meter long course filled with moguls and a pair of breathtaking jumps. The smallest slip on either could mean elimination from this three-round event, which gets underway at 9:05 a.m.

It’s all about courage on Friday and Saturday night, Jan. 30-31, during the two nights of aerials at the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid.

Athletes in this event ski straight down the hill, at speeds of 20-plus miles-per-hour before launching themselves off of ramps, known as “kickers,” that stand as high as nine feet tall. While in the air, as high as 50 feet, these athletes will perform flips, twists and turns before landing on the hill beneath to the delight of the crowd and the score of the judges.

Festivities begin both nights at 7 p.m. with live music from Annie in the Water and aerials get underway at 8 p.m. A fireworks display is scheduled for 9:30 p.m., Saturday.

For a complete schedule, visit http://www.whiteface.com/events/lake-placid-fis-freestyle-cup. Purchase aerial tickets online before Jan. 29 and pay just $16 for adults and $11 for juniors and seniors. Aerial tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for juniors and seniors at the gate, so save $4 when purchasing online. Also flash your Olympic Sites Passport or seasons pass to Whiteface, Gore, Belleayre or Mt. Van Hoevenberg and receive free admission.

A lift ticket and the ability to ski intermediate terrain are required to view the moguls competition at Whiteface.

Athletes to Watch:

Women’s Moguls
Hannah Kearney (USA) – A 10-time world championship medalist
Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CAN) – The 2015 world champion and overall 2015 World Cup leader
Chloe Dufour-Lapointe (CAN) – Ranked third in overall 2015 World Cup standings

Men’s Moguls
Mikael Kingsbury (CAN) – 2015 world championship silver medalist and overall 2015 World Cup leader
Alexandr Smyshlyaev (RUS) – 2015 world championship bronze medalist
Patrick Deneen (USA) – 2015 World Cup bronze medalist (Deer Valley, Utah), finished fourth at the 2015 world championships

Women’s Aerials
Mengtao Xu (CHN) – 2015 world championship bronze medalist and overall 2015 World Cup leader
Kiley McKinnon (USA) – 2015 world championship silver medalist and ranked second in the overall 2015 World Cup standings
Laura Peel (AUS) – 2015 world champion
Ashley Caldwell (USA) – Ranked fifth in overall 2015 World Cup standings, finished fourth at 2015 world championships

Men’s Aerials
Gaungpu Qi (CHN) – 2015 world champion and overall 2015 World Cup leader
Alex Bowen (USA) – 2015 world championship silver medalist
Mac Bohonnon (USA) – Ranked second in overall 2015 World Cup standings
Hang Zhou (CHN) – Ranked third in overall 2015 World Cup standings
Maxim Gustik (BLR) – 2015 world championship bronze medalist

For more information about all of the events and activities taking place on ORDA’s Olympic venues, log onto www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.

Photo from last year’s World Cup courtesy of ORDA/ Whiteface Lake Placid

— ORDA —

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.