Kauf caps perfect World Cup season with hat-trick of titles
Mar 11, 2025·Freestyle
Jaelin Kauf (USA) started the 2025 World Cup season still without a title to speak of.
She is ending it in stupendous style: with a Moguls Crystal Globe to make it a hat-trick of titles to her name.
The American won the Moguls event at the Livigno stop, the Olympic test event, scoring 81.21 points to also secure her spot at the top of the World Cup standings.
She finished ahead of Perrine Laffont (FRA), who took second place with 77.07 points.
Before the Moguls competition, Kauf had a mere six-point lead over her French rival in the standings. As the last one to drop in for the superfinal, competing after Laffont posted a solid run, the American was called on to produce her best.
“From the top, I couldn’t really hear what was happening with the other girls,” said Kauf. “But it’s always safe to assume that Perrine put down a good run.
To lock in her third title of the season in front of her family, Kauf was understandably stoked.
She said: “I feel like the emotions are getting the better of me. This was such a fun day, I’m stoked to have my dad, my mum, my stepdad here. This is incredible.”
Tess Johnson (USA) celebrated her 100th World Cup start with another podium finish, scoring 74.94 points to finish in third place.
Horishima stomps 1440 for fourth win of the season
In the men’s contest, Ikuma Horishima (JPN) showed once again his unparalleled consistency with the Cork 1440. His near flawless execution in the superfinal led to a score of 85.37 points.
It put him ahead of Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury (CAN), who settled for second with a 82.90 effort.
Said Horishima: “I needed to push myself today. The 1440 gave me a high score and helped me get the win.
“This was good preparation ahead of Milan-Cortina. I’m very happy that I managed to put down that run in the superfinal.”
There was cheer for the US team, with Charlie Mickel (USA) getting onto his first World Cup podium.
The 20-year-old posted 80.14 points to complete the men’s Moguls podium.
With Livigno’s Moguls contest in the bag, the season’s Moguls standings has also been finalised.
In the women’s competition, Maia Schwinghammer (CAN) completed the top three to finish third with 456 points, behind Kauf (676) and Laffont (650).
Over in the men’s contest, Kingsbury was head and shoulders above his rivals with 755 points. Horishima finished second with 598 points, while Nick Page (USA) was third with 344 points earned throughout the season.
The circuit also celebrated the creditable performances of the season’s Moguls newcomers, with Charlotte Wilson (AUS) and Matyas Kroupa (CZE) earning the Rookie of the Year award.
Competition in Livigno continues on Wednesday with Dual Moguls. Preliminary rounds start at 10:25 local time, before finals kick off at 12:30.
QUICK LINKS
Livigno World Cup FIS data page (start lists, results, etc)
Photos: Moguls
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