In the first parallel race of the 2009 FIS Snowboard World Championships Gangwon, Korea, presented by LG it was Austria and Canada celebrating World Championships honors. In the parallel giant slalom, it was Marion Kreiner (AUT) who successfully competed against her teammate Doris Guenther taking home her first ever World Championships gold - the second one for Austria at the 2009 event - after winning silver two years ago. In the battle for third, Patrizia Kummer (SUI) crossed the finish line ahead of Japan's Tomoka Takeuchi grabbing an unexpected bronze medal.

On the men's side, it was time again for 2003 double World Champion Jasey Jay Anderson. After four years, the Canadian took another gold medal ahead of Sylvain Dufour (FRA) in the second rank. In addition, Matthew Morison took another medal for Canada finishing third by beating Benjamin Karl from Austria in the small final.

However, it was the World Championships comeback of Anderson which shined in Hyundai Sungwoo resort. No wonder that the father of two kids was more than pleased: "I'm an old but very happy man. This is a great result for Canada with Matthew (Morison) also finishing on the podium." Although he didn't expect this win the 33-year-old said: "That you always go for it." Therefore it was helpful that "I'm usually doing good in Korea on this hill. Although I broke my bindings here last year, I like this hill", where he won a World Cup two years ago.

On the ladies' side, the gold medal for Kreiner was also not to be expected looking at her results earlier this season and since she faced Guenther in the final who had won three out of the five parallel World Cup races so far: "When I crossed the finish line I was just screaming `Yes!´ but now I don't know what to say at all" said the new World Champion who has now a gold and a silver medal under her belt. "I guess it paid off that I took a rest over Christmas trying to concentrate on myself and to find myself again. After Kreischberg where I finished fifth and sixth I knew that I could have a chance. I'm so happy, is there anything better than the title?" On her way to her title the 27-year-old kicked out Caroline Calve (CAN), thereafter former World Champion Ekaterina Tudegesheva (RUS) and Patrizia Kummer in the semi finals.

FIS
20/01/2009

Alexandra Jekova placed 19th

Alexandra Jekova took the 19 place in the discipline Parallel Giant Slalom at the Snowboard World Championship in the Korean Winter Centre Gangwon.
Jekova did not manage to reach the eight-finals. The  other Bulgarian contestant, Teodora Pencheva, is 37.

On the men's race the Bulgarian Radoslav Yankov remained on the 39 position among 69 contestants.