The second to last stop of the 2009 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup in La Molina, Spain, wrapped up with wins for Germany and Canada. In the season’s sixth Parallel Giant Slalom, Amelie Kober (GER) and Jasey-Jay Anderson (CAN) successfully competed against athletes from 21 nations on the course “Cerdanya Catalunya”.

While Amelie Kober celebrated a three-peat by relegating Marion Kreiner (AUT), Michelle Gorgone (USA) and Ina Meschik (AUT) to the second, third and fourth rank respectively, Anderson pulled off a feat which probably no other athlete ever will repeat. The “Canadian Rocket” crowned his career’s 200th World Cup start with his 23rd victory.

In the final of the two reigning World Champions, the 33-year-old (PGS) beat Benjamin Karl from Austria (PSL) who – due to his second place – was able to reduce the gap on his fellow countryman Siegfried Grabner in the race for the World Cup title. In the small final, last year’s winner Andreas Prommegger (AUT) crossed the finish line ahead of Simon Schoch (SUI).

That Anderson would be able to experience such a great event wasn’t to expect at all after his first run in the men’s final. The father of two kids had to tackle the partly very steep course which was flagged with 23 gates with a gap of 97 hundredths on Benjamin Karl. In addition, “Benjamin (Karl) is definitely the one who scares me the most. And if this wouldn’t have been enough I fell asleep in my first run but luckily he made a mistake.”

A mistake which finally opened the doors for the reigning World Champion who crossed the finish line 34 hundredths ahead of Karl putting the icing on the cake of his 200th World Cup start anniversary by taking home the Gold medal. “I didn’t expect to win but was working for it. It’s awesome to win my anniversary race.”

It was even better for Anderson as he had almost missed this turn-up for the books. “I just found out that it will be my 200th race two days ago when I checked the website. I’m so happy to be part of it for such a long time now. It seems that I turn out to be the grandpa of it but I still have one more year” said the 33-year-old with a grin after his career’s 54th World Cup podium.

Kober picks up pace

On the ladies’ side, the duel for the triumph was an even closer one as the race boarder of the last weeks Amelie Kober came in with a gap of only 7 hundredths ahead of Marion Kreiner; and this despite the fact that the Austrian rider had already gained a comfortable lead in the steep section of the course: “I thought that I would have no chance. So I just hoped that Marion (Kreiner) would make a mistake and she did one.” Due to this mistake of her rival, Kober was able to secure her third consecutive victory: “This is amazing. I never thought of this as I used to hate this hill. Well, maybe it’s a love-hate relationship now.”

Due to her win, the 21-year-old from Miesbach (5,232 points) reduced the deficit in the battle for the Crystal Globe down to 238 points. In contrary, current World Cup leader Doris Guenther from Austria (5,470) had missed the chance to extend the gap by getting eliminated in the eighth finals by her fellow countrywoman Julia Dujmovits.

Guenther’s team mate Marion Kreiner could have been able to keep Kober under control for at least a little bit but had “to deal with a stroke in the flat part and thus lost the speed for the final gates” the Graz resident said. No wonder that the 27-year-old reigning PGS World Champion was disappointed: “It’s a pity. Well, I’m kind of happy about the second rank but I could have done even better. Now, I have to do better in the next race.”

Third ranked Michelle Gorgone might have thought something similar after she had lost a penalty lead of 1.5 seconds against Kreiner in the semi final and thus forfeited the chance for a better result. “I felt so good today so this was a bummer for sure. Although I’m pleased there is always something to regret if you don’t win” the 25-year-old US-American said after her career’s seventh World Cup podium.

Two Austrians to decide the battle for the World Cup title

Just like Amelia Kober on the ladies’ side, Benjamin Karl could have clinched a World Cup race three-peat but threw away the chance to do so by making a mistake in the steep section of the course. Nevertheless, the Austrian was still satisfied with the podium finish: “The heat gave me a hard fight today so I kind of lost the strength for the second run in the finals. But I’m happy. I’m psyched about 1-1-2”; especially as the 23-year-old was able to catch up to his team mate Siegfried Grabner (4,900) in the race for the Crystal Globe.

Sitting with 4,200 points on the second place of the ranking the defending champion still has the chance to keep hold on his title in Valmalenco, Italy, where the last races of the season will be staged next week. It’s the same place where he clinched the 2008 World Cup title at the season’s finals of last winter. “It’s still my goal to defend the title. Why should I not dream of it as I still have a theoretical chance?”

Sunday, 15 March 2009 17:55
fissnowboardworldcup.com

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