Marion Thénault runs away with aerials gold to open women's World Cup season

Marion Thénault of Sherbrooke, Que., opened the aerials season with a convincing victory, scoring 99.05 on her second and final run Sunday in Ruka, Finland. 

Danielle Scott of Australia, who led after the first run, captured silver in the field of 12 (88.83) while Kazakhstan's Zhanbota Aldabergenova (85.36) earned bronze.

Charlie Fontaine of Lac-Beauport, Que., was 11th after not advancing to the second run. She scored 67.60 to begin the competition.

Last March, Thénault made good on her goal of a strong finish to the season and reaching the medal podium, picking up bronze at the World Cup Finals in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

WATCH | Thénault dominates competition to win aerials gold in Finland:

It was the Canadian freestyle skier's fourth podium finish of the season and seventh of her career.

The 23-year-old Thénault finished third in last year's overall World Cup standings with 350 points, with Scott capturing the Crystal Globe trophy as overall season champion.

Thenault made her Olympic debut in Beijing in 2022, where she won bronze in mixed team aerials and placed seventh in the women's event.

WATCH | Thénault among aerialists to know this World Cup season: