SNOWBOARD CROSS, 26-29.09.2007, Valle Nevado, Chile. After the first two snowboard cross competitions in the 2007/08 NOKIA Snowboard FIS World Cup season, Maelle Ricker (CAN) and Stian Sivertzen (NOR) are proud to be wearing the yellow World Cup leader’s jerseys. Ricker had an excellent trip to the sunny slopes of Valle Nevado (CHI) as she collected a win and a 2nd place. In the first race, Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) the reigning 2007 World Champion in snowboard cross, edged Ricker in the ladies’ final. Thanks to a strong second place finish on Saturday, Mellie Francon of Switzerland now ranks 3rd in the World Cup standings behind Jacobellis.

SBX WC Valle Nevado: Maltais, Jekova, Yamada, Meiler, Credit: FIS

On the men’s side, Stian Sivertzen celebrated a start-to-finish victory in the first race on Wednesday. In the second competition, the 2007 junior World Champion was overtaken by Pierre Vaultier of France in the middle of the run, but managed to keep the 2nd place ahead of Xavier Delerue (FRA) and Drew Neilson (CAN), the defending snowboard cross World Cup title holder. Vaultier is ranked 2nd behind Sivertzen. The World Cup snowboard cross series will resume in January.

The NOKIA Snowboard FIS World Cup will continue with the opening of the big air season in Rotterdam (NED) this coming Sunday, 7th October. This will be the second FIS big air show near the Erasmus Bridge in the Dutch city. 71 riders from 14 nations have registered for the contest. The alpine riders, then, will kick off the parallel season in SnowWorld indoor ski hall in Landgraaf (NED) on 12th October.

FIS press release
4.10.2007