SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP, 20.12.2006, PGS, Bad Gastein, Austria. Siegfried Grabner of Germany recorded his second Snowboard World Cup parallel slalom victory of the season in Bad Gastein.

Austria's Siegfrid Grabner takes a curve during the final heat of the parallel slalom race at the Snowboard World Cup in Bad Gastein, Austria, December 20, 2006. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA)

The 32-year-old beat defending World Cup overall parallel champion Simon Schoch in the final, a repeat of the season opener at Landgraaf.

It was a sixth World Cup victory for the Austrian who is now level on points with the Swiss at the top of the standings after four events.

Torino PGS champion Philipp Schoch had to settle for third after his board detached from his bindings in his semi-final against Grabner.

Young Austrian Stefan Pletzer recorded a career-high fourth position in just his seventh World Cup race.

Ekaterina Tudigscheva won the women's event, her maiden World Cup victory, as she beat Doresia Krings of Austria in the final.

Russia's Ekaterina Tudigescheva takes a curve during the final heat of the parallel slalom race at the Snowboard World Cup in Bad Gastein, Austria December 20, 2006. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA)

Austria's Doresia Krings takes a curve during the final heat of the parallel slalom race at the Snowboard World Cup in Bad Gastein, Austria December 20, 2006.Krings placed second REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA)

The Russian beat World Cup leader Marion Kreiner in the quarter-finals.

eurosport.com
Lee Walker - 20/12/2006