Stefan Gimpl (AUT), photo credit O'Neill
. world ski news : Janne Korpi clinches victory in big air contest at Quebec, Gimpl celebrates fourth Crystal Globe - 24 January 2010 - 10:01
Janne Korpi (FIN) has triumphed in the fifth and thus last big air contest of the 2010 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season. After the Finnish rider had won in yesterday's halfpipe contest at Stoneham, the 23-years-old also jumped on the top podium spot in today's big air competition in Quebec City. In front of 25,000 spectators, Korpi earned a total of 52.1 points thus relegating Austria's Stefan Falkeis (50.0), who celebrated his career's first ever podium, to the runner-up position. Jaakko Ruha (FIN, 48) rounded out the podium as third thus edging off Stefan Gimpl (47.4) to the fourth rank.
Stefan Gimpl (AUT), photo credit O'Neill
Austria's snowboard veteran thus clinched his career's third consecutive World Cup title with 4.300 points. Gian-Luca Cavigelli from Switzerland was the second best freestyler of the season with 3,320 points while Matevz Pristavec (SLO, 1,620) finished as third of the ranking.
The icy conditions of Eastern Canada seem to be good for Janne Korpi who dominated the second floodlight final within two days thus securing his career's fourth Big Air World Cup win. But that the Finnish ripper was the best rider of the night was due to one good jump in the qualifications. "My practise was really bad. I didn't land anything. I was thinking if I should do the qualifiers at all" the 2007 Big Air World Championships Bronze medallist said.
Big air poduim, photo credit O'Neill
But after a quick talk with his coach Pekka Koskela, Korpi entered the competition getting better and better with every trick. In the finals, the Olympic hopeful for a halfpipe medal impressed the judges with "frontside 1080" and "cab 900". "I didn't expect this after that training session but the qualifiers were good for my confidence. It's amazing. It's been a very good weekend for me."
Stefan Falkeis might have thought the same after he made it for the first time ever on the podium - and this in his 54th World Cup attempt. "I hardly can believe it and am totally surprised" the 26-years-old said right after the finals. The Tyrolean shredder had been close to make in the top-3 several times, finished fourth once (Moscow 2007) but he messed it up in his last jump too often. "This time I said to myself to stick this final jump ("cab 900" after a "cab 1080"). I was going for this for so long now. So I'm so happy that it finally worked out." Especially as he had some thoughts of retirement in his mind already. "I was thinking of quitting after this event but now I guess I will be back. I have to talk with my girl friend."
Gimpl celebrates fourth Crystal Globe
One other rider who will be part of the show next year might be Stefan Gimpl who took home his career's fourth World Cup title, the third in a row and all this in only five winters. But the Austrian snowboard veteran already doubts that there could be more Crystal Globes to be put to his belt. "I didn't expect to win this season either as those kids are throwing in some massive tricks ("double corks") which I don't do. But this winter just went fine for me" the 30-years-old from the Salzburg area said.
Stefan Gimpl (AUT), photo credit O'Neill
In addition, Gimpl, who had placed 17th times on the podium including nine wins in 24 World Cup starts, admitted that "Gian-Luca (Cavigelli) made me sweat a little bit as I had to count on him to be right on top of the podium again."
But this time, Gimpl was proven wrong as Cavigelli bailed all of his jumps in the finals. No matter if he tried to stick a "double cork backside 1080" or a "cab 900", he missed it every single time. Thus, the Swiss rider, who was the only one being able to challenge Gimpl for the World Cup title, explained that "today, something was very wrong with it. I was riding like I normally do but it just didn't work out." However, the 21-years-old was pretty pleased with his season: "It was great. And to be honest, Stefan (Gimpl) was to far away anyway."
The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup continues in Stoneham where parallel giant slalom is scheduled for tomorrow.
FISsnowboard.com
Sunday 24 January 2010