Before Gu’s last-ditch attempt, it was Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin who looked to be in the driver’s seat of the competition after Atkin scored a 90.25 in her first run of the final, putting her fully five points ahead of Gu’s run one score of 85.25.
With her back against the wall, Gu did not hold back in her final run, leading with her signature right cork 900 buick, into a left cork 900 blunt, then a switch indy 720 Japan, a left alley oop flatspin 540 mute, and a right alley oop flatspin 540 critical grab on the final hit for a winning score of 91.75.
“That was not easy. I’ve been struggling with speed all of training,” said the 22-year-old.
“I actually almost didn’t compete because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do my tricks at the amplitude I was at. That was the first full run that I’ve landed all day. It was such a mental battle.”
Australia’s Indra Brown finished third behind Atkin on 82.00 to claim her first World Cup podium in what was the 15-year-old’s World Cup debut in Secret Garden.
Gu’s win on Saturday follows a 2024/25 season in which the Olympic champion battled multiple injuries, and comes just a week after Gu won the inaugural Snow League Freeski competition.
Australia’s Indra Brown finished third behind Atkin on 82.00 to claim her first World Cup podium in what was the 15-year-old’s World Cup debut in Secret Garden.
Gu’s win on Saturday follows a 2024/25 season in which the Olympic champion battled multiple injuries, and comes just a week after Gu won the inaugural Snow League Freeski competition.