Snowboarding 2015 - 2018 Discussion Thread

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Samkova and Haemmerle prevail in Solitude sbx

 

Eva Samkova (CZE) and Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) have claimed victory in this season's second snowboard cross event which was staged at Solitude Mountain Resort today where the field of 24 women and 48 men did not only battle head to head in heats of six but also with the weather situation.

 

Heavy snow fall and challenging wind conditions at the venue of the 2019 sbx world championships decisions had forced Race Organisers to postpone the start of the finals several times after some of the teams did have some problems making it to the resort.

 

A massive snowstorm had heavily impacted the only access road through Big Cottonwood Canyon.

 

However, after a delay of 90 minutes, there was some racing going on which featured the tight finals everyone was hoping for.

 

In the women's finals, Samkova rode her own race controlling the field from the front and keeping herself out of the battles for the positions and lines finally snatching her career's sixth in dominant fashion.

 

“The first days were perfect but today was tricky. We almost didn't get up the hill because the traffic was crazy. But we made it and waited a little bit. Finally we were able to race. It was nice but everything was different compared to training and qualifiers. I'm really happy,” Samkova said.

 

Thursday's best qualifier therefore also took over the lead from Belle Brockhoff (AUS), who finished sixth today, in the World Cup standings being in front with 1,400 points now.

 

Michela Moioli (ITA) and four-time world champion Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) rounded out the women's podium as second and third.

 

 

In the men's event, Alessandro Haemmerle came out victorious of a nail-biting final edging off new World Cup leader Omar Visintin (ITA) to the second rank.

 

“The day started pretty weird. It took us three hours to come up her but then it all ended up fine. Racing was tough. It was very difficult with the snow fall and wind.

 

But once you had the feeling for the course you were just going for it. And I was fortunate to take home that win,” Haemmerle stated after securing his career's third in a breathtaking showdown.

 

In fact, things could have ended the other way round with him missing out the win as the decision between him and Visintin was a photo finish decision.

 

Second race, second again. I guess that's good, also there was just a few centimetres missing in a tough race,” commented Visintin.

 

The 2014 sbx World Cup title winner took over the lead in the race for the Crystal Globe with his second consecutive runner-up finish and now 1,600 points in his pocket.

 

Alex Deibold (USA) rounded out the men's podium in third admitting that he likes those adverse weather competitions:

 

“It was challenging conditions. But you know, I tend to do well in adverse weather growing up in New England.

 

I think the snow brought the pressure down a little bit. It seemed to be a little bit less tense up there. I just rode my own race. I'm just so stoked I was able to put it together.”

 

The snowboard cross World Cup tour continues tomorrow in Solitude with this season's second sbx team event scheduled at 8 PM CET.

 

Several TV stations will broadcast the race live. Check here for an overview.

 

 

Full Results Men and Women

 

 

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Italian and US duos celebrate wins at Solitude team SBX

 

Team USA1 and ITA1 are the winning duos of the 2016-17 snowboard cross World Cup season's second team race which was staged in perfect conditions at Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah today.

 

The host in waiting of the 2019 snowboard cross world championships decisions had been hit by a snow storm yesterday which had made the individual race not only a fight man against man but also one against Mother Nature.

 

But today, the weather God was a snowboard fan blowing the last clouds away and leaving the field a superb man-built course with great visibility and no head-wind to compete on.

 

A World Cup win as birthday present

 

Four-time world champion Lindsey Jacobellis, who had placed third in yesterday's individual race as well as birthday girl Rosina Mancari did their home country proud winning the big final in a photo finish decision against FRA1.

 

Jacobellis, the first in the team to enter the course, handed over quite a lead to her younger companion hoping that Mancari, who turned 22 today, would be able to keep hold to it.

 

“Today was really awesome. My legs weren't as tired as I though they would be which was cool.

 

Last run was fighting the whole way down. We were all really close, and I was trying to just take away lines and options and slow down the other girls trying to hold the lead so Rosi doesn't have to fight her way through the pack.”

 

And Rosi, who had switched roles with the 2006 Olympic silver medallist in order to best their fourth rank finish from the Montafon World Cup opener, stood true to the game plan blocking off all attacks launched by Nelly Moenne Loccoz who was literally breathing down Mancari's neck.

 

“Oh my God, the last turns. She was right on me. I had to take my line and keep my speed but I also needed to figure out where she would try to pass me. I just tried to hold her off as best as I can,” reported Mancari who did compete in her first US World Cup event.

 

“I can't really put it in words what it means to me. My mom is here watching the first race ever. It's just amazing.”

 

With Mancari, with six World Cup stops under her belt quite a new face on the tour, showcasing some nerves of steel, Team USA1 prevented back-to-back team sbx event triumphs for the French as runner-ups Moenne Loccoz and Sochi bronze medallist Chloe Trespeuch had been successful in Austria earlier this season.

 

Michela Moioli and Raffaella Brutto of ITA1, who had placed second in Austria, rounded out the podium as third.

 

Redemption for Team Italy

 

In the men's event, reigning world champion Luca Matteotti and Emanuel Perathoner clinched the win in the men's final which saw several wash-outs, passes and tight manoeuvres, simply all ingredients which make snowboard cross what it is: a great show.

 

It was the perfect way to delete their yesterday's disappointing results from any memories related to the first ever World Cup stop in Solitude.

 

In the individual race, Matteotti and Perathoner had finished on a respective 35^th and 42^nd place.

 

However, ITA1 owed today's redemption triumph to Perathoner's sensational comeback.

 

Going out of the gates as fourth and last rider the South Tyrolean stormed through the course, capitalised on riding mistakes of his rivals like the one from yesterday's winner of AUT1 Alessandro Haemmerle and passed one competitor after the other finally bringing home the win for his team ahead of AUT2 young guns Julian Lueftner and Lukas Pachner who celebrated their career's first World Cup podium.

 

“We tried to do better than yesterday and tried to win. Basically I had no pressure. I did very bad yesterday, and I just wanted to do it better today,” Perathoner said.

 

USA1 with Alex Deibold and Nate Holland placed in third position.

 

The snowboard cross World Cup tour continues in Bansko (BUL) with an individual race staged from February 2 to 4, 2017.

 

 

 

Full Results Women and Men

 

 

 

[hckošice 14,846]

Gold and Bronze for Belgium (Seppe Smits 1st and Sebbe de Buck 3rd) in mens slopestyle in Seiser Alm

[hckošice 14,846]

Rukajarvi and Smits mount Seiser Alm throne

 

Enni Rukajarvi (FIN) and Seppe Smits (BEL), who both had earned the first ever slopestyle world championships title back in 2011, have claimed victory in today's third slopestyle competition of the 2016-17 season which was staged at Seiser Alm (ITA) under a blue bird sky.

 

It was the first time that the Italian resort hosted a snowboard World Cup event.

 

Facing perfect conditions in a well-designed course of the award-winning Snowpark nestling in the South Tyrolean Resort, Rukajarvi kept the momentum of her last weekend's LAAX OPEN triumph securing back-to-back wins by posting the high score of 81.70 in a close women's three run, best on count final of the top-6 qualifiers.

 

The 2014 Olympic silver medallist landed a lipslide, 50-50 backside 360 out and a front blunt 270 out in the jibbing section before going into a frontside 360 melon, backside 540 indy and cab 720 mute over the jumps to take home her third World Cup win.

 

“So far, I'm really surprised. It's hard to believe to have back-to-back wins under my belt. It's cool. I'm really happy,” she said before also explaining why she was absent from the contest scene since the Sochi Olympic Winter Games.

 

“I have been competing for many years now. At some point I just did too many contests. I took a break of that, and now it's fun to do contests again.”

 

Laurie Blouin (CAN; 80.50) finished second and locked in her career's second World Cup podium by edging off Swiss Sina Candrian (80.40) to third with the tiny mere of 0.10.

 

“Today was just crazy. It's been the best contest I have ever ridden in in regards of the conditions. And it's been a very high level of riding. It's cool to see that because the girls are pushing each other. I'm really happy,” stated Blouin whose run had included cab double cork 900 while Candrian had been the sole female to stomp a frontside 1080 in the women's finals.

 

The rise of the flatlanders

 

In the men's event which saw ten riders going for the win, things were also getting pretty tight with Seppe Smits earning his career's third but first in slopestyle with a score of 88.30 relegating British style machine Jamie Nicholls (87.90) to the second rank.

 

Smits threw down a backside lipslide to fakie, cab 180 backside 360 out and backside 270 in the rail section before going into the kicker line with a frontside 900 mute to a huge cab 1260 stalefish and a backside 1260 mute to finish things off.

 

It was a run which had took some time to be put together Smits admitted after his first ever slopestyle World Cup tirumph:

 

“I'm very satisfied with today's results. I was kind of feeling it today after the first days of practise had been a bit hard for me. So I switched up everything, figured out a good run to do and I managed to land it in my first run. I'm pretty hyped.”

 

Jamie Nicholls, who had pulled out of the Kreischberg World Cup two weeks ago therefore missing some action in the race for the Crystal Globe, was more than satisfied with his outcome. But not only because he finally got rid of the knee brace today.

 

“It's amazing. The whole practice went so well, and I landed my run every time. In the finals I messed it up twice. But in the third run of the finals I finally landed it. So, I'm really happy.”

 

With Sebbe de Buck (BEL, 85.75) – the third ever Belgian rider to step on a World Cup podium – rounding out the podium as third and Billy Morgan (GBR, 84.40) placing fourth, it was not only a great outing for the two countries known for their dry and indoor slopes but also the best result in World Cup history for riders from the flatlands.

 

On top of that, it was the first time in history, that two Belgians climbed the podium together with de Buck celebrating his career's first top-3 result.

 

The snowboard freestyle World Cup tour continues next week with both, a halfpipe and slopestyle competition slated to take place in Mammoth Mountain (USA) from February 1 to 4, 2017.

 

 

 

 

Full Results Mens and Womens

 

 

 

[hckošice 14,846]

Ledecka and Galmarini triumph in Rogla pgs

 

Ester Ledecka (CZE) and Nevin Galmarini (SUI) have triumphed in the 2016-17 World Cup season's second parallel giant slalom which was staged in Rogla (SLO) today.

 

And unlike the previous years before, the Slovenian resort was finally and deservedly blessed with a lot of snow and a blue bird sky which attracted even more spectators to cheer for their local favourites.

 

While one of them, Rok Flander, finally retired from active racing finishing 17^th and another one, Zan Kosir, made it on the podium as third of the men's competition, the big show was delivered by some other carving specialists.

 

In the men's event, it was Nevin Galmarini standing out. After having been victorious agains Sang-Kyum Kim (KOR), and Sylvain Dufour (FRA), the 2014 Olympic silver medallist also eliminated Kosir to move on to the big finals where he faced defending alpine snowboard overall World Cup champion Radoslav Yankov.

 

The Swiss racer was able to outpace the Bulgarian athlete with the tiny lead of 0.12 seconds to bring home his career's eagerly anticipated first win in his 88^th World Cup start.

 

“It's just unbelievable. It's so special and very important for me. I have been on the podium a few times but this... Every summer I train so hard doing it to finally win a World Cup race. Now this dream has come true. I'm super happy,” he said.

 

His rival Yankov, who was so close to earn his career's third, stated: “Everything was perfect until the very last gates. I felt good during the runs before but then made some minor mistake at the end. So, I'm a little bit disappointed.”

 

However, the rider from Chepelare, who had turned 27 two days ago, also knew: “But still, I'm happy with my second place, it's been perfect advertising for my home races next week. So, I hope that a lot of people come to Bansko to support me at site.”

 

The ski resort nestling at the foot of the Pirin Mountains and latest addition to the World Cup calendar, will play host to two parallel giant slalom races therefore becoming the second ever snowboard World Cup stop in Bulgaria.

 

Ledecka takes makes it three in Rogla

 

With expectations high in Bansko, it's not clear yet if women's World Cup leader Ester Ledecka will make it there as the Czech superstar plans to compete in the St. Moritz alpine skiing world championships and has to define her travel itinerary.

 

However, “I would love to compete in Bansko,” she said after winning the women's finals.

 

It's been the third time after 2014 and 2016 for her to triumph in Rogla with five World Cup events having been staged on the Jasa slope so far.

 

Ledecka, who is dreaming of winning medals in both, alpine skiing and snowboarding, at PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games kept hold to her title by beating Germany's Carolin Langenhorst, who earned her career's first podium.

 

“It's always a tough race here as it is an hill which is easy – and that makes is so hard to succeed. All the riders are on the very same level. There are only some very small differences.

 

You have to have a good tech and team behind you and be very good prepared in order to go every run as fast as you can,” she explained before adding that “I don't have a special secret. I'm just focusing on every single run trying to be the first one down in the finish.”

 

Ina Meschik finished in third position after coming out successful of an all Austrian small final against her teammate Claudia Riegler.

 

 

 

 

Full Results Men and Women

 

 

 

 

[Federer91 2,801]

Tomorrow begins the Bansko world cup weekend.  With the success that Jekova and Yankov have had, i think our federation will try to have World Cup starts for a while. It is expected that the saturday/sunday starts to have around 10 000 spectators.

[Federer91 2,801]

Great qualification run by Rado Yankov, second time, let's hope he can make the final.  Fischnaller, Christoph Mick, Dufour all didn't pass the Q, very interesting stuff. No Ledecka on the womens side, plus Ulbing DNF in the qualification, so it is wide open there. I'm rooting for Zavarzina for the win. 

[Federer91 2,801]

Fantastic Rado Yankov  Great win and infront of his family and friends. Also a little payback against Galmarini for Rogla. Now make it double on sunday. 

[hckošice 14,846]

Kummer and Yankov triumph in historic race in Bulgaria

 

Second best qualifiers Patrizia Kummer (SUI) and Radoslav Yankov (BUL) have claimed victory in the first parallel giant slalom of two World Cup races currently staged at Bansko which therefore became the second ever Bulgarian hist of a snowboard World Cup competition.

 

With a perfectly prepared course given under a blue bird sky, a demanding and turning setting of the gates as well as 7,000 noisy spectators who were barracking for their local favourite everything was set for an history writing debut as the so far sole World Cup staged on Bulgarian soil was dating back to Sofia where a big air was held in 2007.

 

And as if Hollywood had written the story line for the first ever pgs World Cup event at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, it was the Bulgaria's snowboard superstar Radoslav Yankov doing his home country proud by securing the much anticipated win in front of a stellar crowd where a lot of fans were fully equipped with Yankov masks and shirts.

 

One week after turning 27, the racer coming from Chepelare beat Rogla winner Nevin Galmarini (SUI) in the men's final bringing home his career's third.

 

“I'm really excited and happy about this win. It's a dream come true for me. I have to thank Bansko for putting this one up, such a great slope. The people here were awesome. I will never forget this race,” he said before getting feted by the crowd at site.

 

Earning 1,000 points for his victory, Yankov took over the lead in the pgs as well as alpine snowboard overall World Cup ranking from Benjamin Karl (AUT) who finished in third position after having the upper hand on Mirko Felicetti (ITA) in the small final.

 

Clashes of the titans

 

While the men's event became a well-deserved Yankov show ,the women's event also featured an exciting showdown with 2014 Olympic champions Patrizia Kummer and Julia Dujmovits (AUT) going head to head in the big finals until the finish line.

 

In the end, the Swiss racer, who had lost her Rogla eight final last week do to the worse qualifier time after being tied with her rival Carolin Langenhorst (GER), came out successful of the most thrilling duel of the day by crossing the line 0.01 seconds ahead of her rival from Austria.

 

“It was an incredible race for me. I felt well right from the beginning. As a result I had a good qualifier time which was important for me as it didn't really work out in the last races. I knew that I just had to believe in myself and what I do. And it worked out. I'm super happy that I made it on top of the podium, especially in front of such a crowd here in Bansko.”

 

Although one man's meat is another man's poison, runner-up Julia Dujmovits was also pleased with the result given the fact that she had to overcome several setbacks during the season already:

 

“I'm not disappointed although it's never nice to lose by only one hundredths but this is a sport where things can go the other way round next time. So, I'm sure that I will have the advantage sometime again.

 

I'm glad about my racing today especially as the whole season hasn't been going well for me so far with two finger injuries. I'm happy that I came back step by step and finished on the podium today.”

 

Ladina Jenny (SUI) rounded out the podium as third while 2015 world champion Claudia Riegler (AUT) had to settle for fourth position just like last weekend in Slovenia.

 

Eighth rank finisher Ina Meschik (AUT) took over the pgs World Cup lead from Ester Ledecka (CZE), who is missing out the Bansko trip due to participating in the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships in St. Moritz (SUI).

 

However, the Czech is still leading the overall World Cup ranking.

 

The alpine snowboard World Cup tour continues this coming Sunday with another parallel giant slalom staged on the Alberto Tomba slope.

 

Finals are scheduled for 1:30 PM CET.

 

 

 

 

 

Full Results Women and Men

 

 

 

 

[Federer91 2,801]

Todays start is a new modification in the SBX - a Sprint Cross race. Basically the snowboard version of the 100m  Only a straight line with jumps and rollers.