Abi Strate Wins First World Cup Ski Jumping Gold

Canadian ski jumper Abi Strate started the new year with a bang by soaring to her first career World Cup victory on Thursday.

The 24-year-old from Calgary captured gold on the large hill in Oberstdorf,Germany with 268.2 points.

Strate topped China’s Zeng Ping by 10.5 points. zeng landed in second with 257.7 points, followed by Germany’s Selina Freitag with 257.3.

“This has been my dream since I can remember. I didn’t know if it would ever happen, but I have always been chasing it. I frickin’ did it,” said Strate, who was second in Oberstdorf two years ago.

“The German hills seem to agree with me. The first training jump today I was third. I had zero problems. the inrun is very critically important to me and this one is just perfect for me to find that comfortable position.”