Lindsey Jacobellis of USA competes during the qualification at the women's snowboard cross World Cup race in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Keystone, Jean-Christophe Bott)
. bg snowboard news : Алекс Жекова направо хвърчи във Вейсоназ, Швейцария - 18 January 2012 - 17:38
Sunny SBX qualifiers dominated by Jacobellis and Pullin
СНОУБОРД (SKI.BG) -- Българската супер звезда на сноуборда Александра Жекова влезе с гръм и трясък в утрешното състезание за Световната купа по бордеркрос, след като днес в швейцарския курорт Вейсоназ даде 2-ро време в квалификацията. По бърза и в двете спускания по трасето беше единствено американката Линдзи Джакобелис, а зад Алекс останаха всички, включително канадката Доминик Малте. При мъжете най-бърз по пистата за сноубордкрос беше "любимият" на нашата звезда - австралиецът Алекс Пулин. Давайте, наш'те! ОЧАКВАЙТЕ ПОДРОБНОСТИТЕ!
Sunny SBX qualifiers dominated by Jacobellis and Pullin
On the ladies side, Lindsey Jacobellis (USA, photo) posted almost the identical time in run one and two (1:01:38; 1:01:37) and thus edged off Alexandra Jekova (BUL, 1:01:86) and one of her eternal rivals of the past seasons, Dominique Maltais (CAN, 1:01:93), to second and third respectively.
Lindsey Jacobellis of USA competes during the qualification at the women's snowboard cross World Cup race in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Keystone, Jean-Christophe Bott)
While those two racers were only a mere of .49 and .56 seconds behind, all other girls were at least more than one second slower than the reigning World Champion, who had also won the major event in 2005 and 2007.
However, the top-17 seated ladies came in all within a range of some four seconds; but there were also some others such as Katerina Chourova (CZE) and Bell Berguis (NED), who just sneaked in the top-24 and thus the finals as 23rd and 24th being 7.37 seconds slower than Jacobellis.
Needless to say that the 2006 Olympic Silver medalist, who had also won the qualifiers at Telluride and also the finals in Colorado, would have almost made it into the men's finals.
Chumpy with a blast
Last rider to qualify for the men's finals of the top-48 qualifiers was Daniiel Dilman (RUS), who needed 1:00:62 minutes for the course on Piste de l'Ours.
The 15-year-old kid will race his first World Cup finals facing high flyer Alex Pullin (AUS) since the reigning World Champion and World Cup title defender from down under seemed to have a rocket strapped to his feet blasting down the course in the best time of only 56.87 seconds.
Interesting fact: he secured the time to beat in his first run, although the second run was definitely the faster one as more sun hit the course helping the most guys to better their time.
However, Pullin, although knowing that he could improve his own time, decided to take it easy and to give his body some rest before entering tomorrow's finals – still as top seated rider.
While Chumpy made everyone standing around in the finish line with gaping mouth, there were more two big names of the boarder cross scene who almost came close to Pullin's time.
Nate Holland (USA, 57.52) and Pierre Vaultier (FRA, 57.55) were the only ones to be less than one second behind.
FISsnowboard.com
Wednesday 18 January 2012