The UK's Zoe Gillings has consistent streak by finishing 3rd in the Small Final in the Stoneham leg of the FIS World Cup Snowboard Cross in Canada to finish 9th overall on the day. Zoe is currently sitting in 7th place in the women's World Cup standings.


SBX World Cup Stoneham, CAN - Finals - Small Final Women - Dominique Maltais (CAN) in red, Alexandra Jekova (BUL) in blue, Zoe Gillings (GBR) in green, Yuka Fujimori (JPN) in white, Emilie Aubry (SUI) in yellow © FIS/Oliver Kraus

Maelle Ricker (CAN) and Pierre Vaultier (FRA) have secured victory in the season's fifth snowboard cross race of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup tour which took place in Stoneham, Quebec, today. While the fastest qualifier relegated French rivals Nelly Moenne Loccoz and Deborah Anthonioz to second and third in the women's final, the current World Cup leader (3,632 points) crossed the finish line ahead of Nikolay Olyunin (RUS) and Jonathan Cheever (USA) in the men's final.

Dominique Maltais (CAN), who had lost all hopes for a home turf win in the semi finals due to a riding mistake, won the consolidation run and placed seventh thus still sitting in first of the women's SBX World Cup ranking (3,560) with a comfortable lead.

Maelle Ricker (CAN) said "That was a bit hairy. I was losing it at the end. I could feel Nelly (Moenne Loccoz) coming on me. I just managed to hang on. I didn't really expect to win as Dom (Maltais) was so much faster out of the start on video. So, I knew it would be a tough and tight race no matter what. My semi final was actually so stacked. We had such a fast heat. I was happy that I rode well in the heat before the final because it got me ready for the big final. I feel good. I feel relieved having won here on home turf."


SBX World Cup Stoneham, CAN - Finals - Final Women - Maelle Ricker (CAN) in red, Nelly Moenne Loccoz (FRA) in yellow, Deborah Anthonioz (FRA) in green, Michelle Brodeur (CAN) in black © FIS/Oliver Kraus

Pierre Vaultier (FRA) added "Another win. I really don't know what to say. It's my fourth time here in Stoneham and the fourth time I win. I don't know why but it seems to be the right vibes for me. The course seems to be made for me. I celebrated my career's first ever victory here and ever since it just works fine for me. I feel like home here so maybe I should think of buying an apartment here and settle down. I don't want to think about the World Cup title. Too many things can happen in the last two races. I might be doing good here all the time but I never did well in Valmalenco before."


SBX World Cup Stoneham, CAN - Finals - Heat 13 Men - Pierre Vaultier (FRA) in green, Andrey Boldykov (RUS) in blue, Alex Pullin (AUS) in red, Tony Ramoin (FRA) in yellow, Alex Tuttle (USA) in black © FIS/Oliver Kraus

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