Canadian freestyle skier Lewis Irving reached his first World Cup podium in two years with a men鈥檚 aerials silver medal on home soil Saturday.

The 29-year-old from Quebec City scored 102.50 points in the super final at Le Relais ski resort.

China鈥檚 Qi Guangpu captured gold (124.00) and Christopher Lillis of the United States took bronze (85.40).

It was Irving鈥檚 first podium since winning bronze at the World Cup event in Ruka, Finland, in December 2022.

Irving attempted a difficult quintuple-twist jump and his gamble paid off, even though he fell on the landing 鈥� as did four other participants in the super final.

鈥淚t feels great. We took a risk, went all-in with a quintuple twist in the super final,鈥� he said with a wide smile. 鈥淚 tried it, and even though I didn鈥檛 stick the landing, it shows it was the right decision.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 come here to aim for second or third, so that鈥檚 why I went for it.鈥�

The result was particularly satisfying for Irving after two years plagued by numerous injuries.

鈥淟ast year was pretty tough, especially coming back from injuries and all,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 really happy to get a podium this early in the season, it gives me energy for the rest of the year.鈥�

Irving could secure his ticket to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics on Sunday if he finishes on the podium again.

鈥淲hile some say they鈥檙e not thinking about (Olympic qualification), I am. I know full well the ultimate goal is to score a hat trick at the Olympics,鈥� said Irving, who won bronze in the mixed team event at the Beijing Olympics in 2022.

鈥淥ne step down, and I鈥檒l go for the second tomorrow (Sunday).鈥�

Alexandre Duchaine, also of Quebec City, finished in fifth place with 78.28 points.

Earlier, Marion Th茅nault of Sherbrooke, Que., placed 13th in women鈥檚 aerials qualifying, falling just 0.26 points short of a spot in the final.

鈥淭hat makes it even worse,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f I鈥檇 at least wiped out, I鈥檇 be less disappointed. It鈥檚 frustrating.鈥�

The 24-year-old was bedridden by a severe virus earlier in the week and is dealing with a knee injury sustained during qualifications at last week鈥檚 World Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Th茅nault needed to reach the podium in both individual events this weekend to secure her Olympic qualification. She鈥檒l have more opportunities to qualify later in the season.