In the ladies’ final, US-American Jacobellis who claimed her season’s fifth triumph on the Alabauj course relegated Sandra Frei to the second rank by winning a close photo finish. Dominique Maltais (CAN) came in third ahead of Alexandra Jekova from Bulgaria. On the men’s side, Austria’s Markus Schairer secured his third win of the season.

Despite the fact that he had entered the race with an injured knee, the reigning 2009 World Champion dominated all of his heats also crossing the finish line in the finals first ahead of his rivals for victory Nick Baumgartner (USA), Francois Boivin (CAN) and Australia’s Alex Pullin.

According to this the 21-year-old was all smiles: “I’m entirely happy. It was my goal to win today but achieving it is just ace!” Indeed, Austria’s National Champion benefitted from today’s conditions and the soft snow: “That really played into my hands as the conditions were perfect for my knee. The landing areas were pretty soft so I didn’t suffered hard strokes.” Now, the St. Gallenkirchen resident is considering carefully if he will start in next week’s World Cup finals being staged in Valmalenco (ITA): “My coaches and doctors told me not to do so. They reckon it would be the best to have a surgery as soon as possible. With an eye on the up-coming 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver I guess that would be the best.”

Following the Austrian in the current Snowboard Cross World Cup ranking mainly US-Americans Seth Wescott (3,680), Nick Baumgartner (2,600), Nate Holland (2,410) and Jonathan Cheever (2,370) are battling with Canada’s Mike Robertson (2,880) and Robert Fagan (2,250) in order to round out the season’s Snowboard Cross World Cup podium in Italy.

Winter’s first podium for second and third ranked riders

Therefore, today’s result was pretty important for Nick Baumgartner who also had entered the competition handicapped – although not as bad as Schairer – after he went done badly in the seventh race of the season which took place in Sunday River two weeks ago. “My whole back hurts. There are bruises all over the place. But the intensity of the race took care of the pain.”

In the end, the 2009 World Championships Bronze medallist had this winter’s first podium result to his name: “This is why I was kind of beating myself. This is why I came here. I did everything I could. No pain – no game”, the 27-year-oldMalta US-American said after the finals.

In addition, third placed Canadian Francois Boivin also celebrated his winter’s first top-3-result under the blue sky in La Molina: “It was about time for a podium. Over the whole season I always was among the best ten riders but always made a stupid mistake or had just bad luck.” However, the 26-year-old who had missed the podium in Cypress as fourth one month ago never had expected the result to come today: “This was a course on which a big guy would take victory facing those conditions. And I’m light-weight!”

Lindsey Jacobellis truly is the queen of Snowboard Cross

Also on the ladies’ side, World Cup leader Lindsey Jacobellis had – adhering to standards – underlined with her triumph that she deservedly claimed her career’s second World Cup title having collected 6,100 points so far. Five victories in so far eight races speak for themselves; especially as the 23-year-old from Stratton, Vermont, missed the big final only once (Bad Gastein) and didn’t jump on the podium only two times. “The title is definitely very special.

I really wanted to take home the globe in the pre-Olympic season!” But today’s win wasn’t earned as easy as the World Cup title as the 2006 Olympic runner-up crossed the finish line together with Sandra Frei which made a photo finish decision necessary – with the better end for Jacobellis: “Sandra (Frei) worked out the roller section after the start way better than I did but I never gave up and tried to stay close to her. I knew that the last jump would be decisive. I’m happy with that win!”

In contrary, defeated Swiss rider Sandra Frei was of course disappointed about how the finals ended. “It’s a pity. You make one mistake and that’s it. In the last bank I lost the speed I would have needed to win. Apart from that, it was a good race although it didn’t work out with my season’s third triumph. But there is one more race to come”, said the 24-year-old pugnaciously.

Third placed Canadian Dominique Maltais was also pleased with the result as she stepped on the podium for the second time this season after being forced to handle some set-backs: “The season was tough. I broke both wrists but was able to perform well in the last races. However, it was good for the confidence to be in the big final again after missing it quite a few times.”

Ranked sixth (3,280) in the current Snowboard Cross World Cup standings, the 23-year-old is the last among a circle of riders still having the chance to place on the season’s World Cup podium besides Jacobellis. However, Sandra Frei (4,110), Maelle Ricker (CAN, 4,100) as well as Mellie Francon (SUI, 3,630) and reigning World Champion Helene Olafsen (NOR, 3,470) have better chances to do so.

Friday, 13 March 2009 16:03
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