Parkite aerialist Chris Lillis is currently preparing for the upcoming Olympics, having recently competed in his first World Cup event of the season in Ruka, Finland, on December 6. The 27-year-old athlete, who previously won a gold medal in mixed team aerials at the 2022 Beijing Olympics alongside fellow Parkites Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld, finished third in the Ruka World Cup. Lillis executed a full, double, full, full jump to secure the bronze medal but is aware that he must elevate his performance for the Milan Olympics in February. As he aims for Olympic success, Lillis is also focused on winning his first Crystal Globe trophy, awarded to the season's top-ranked aerialist. "It’s always good to get on the podium, especially early in the season," Lillis stated about his recent finish. He described the early competition as a chance for athletes to test their skills, noting, "Everybody in the competition is kind of just throwing things at the wall and seeing if it sticks." Lillis plans to incorporate more advanced maneuvers, such as quintuple twisting triple jumps, as the season progresses. The Ruka event was won by Oleksandr Okipniuk of Ukraine, who successfully executed a quintuple twisting triple jump. Lillis expressed his admiration for Okipniuk but is determined to challenge him in future competitions. Currently, Lillis and the rest of the World Cup aerialists are in Secret Garden, China, for the second Cup of the season, which features men’s and women’s aerials competitions. Team USA achieved three top-10 finishes in Ruka, with fellow Parkites Quinn Dehlinger and Kyra Dossa finishing just outside the podium. As the team aims to secure maximum Olympic bid spots, Lillis emphasized the importance of focused training. The U.S. team has remained in Ruka for an extended training session before heading to China, where conditions are favorable for aerialists. Lillis aims to enhance his consistency in competitive settings, particularly in Secret Garden, which hosted the Olympic aerials competitions in 2022. The World Cup circuit will continue with events in Lake Placid and Deer Valley in January, where Lillis looks forward to competing in front of home fans. He encouraged viewers to watch the events via Ski and Snowboard Live’s website, highlighting the unity and shared goals of the aerials team for this Olympic season.