In the fourth Halfpipe contest of the 2009 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup two riders secured victory in Bardonecchia/Melezet today, who had missed the Olympic podium at the same venue three years ago. In the ladies’ final where the top-5 of the 2006 Winter Games competed in, Kelly Clark (USA) relegated her team colleagues, who had grabbed Gold and Silver at the 2006 Olympics, Hannah Teter (43.2) and Gretchen Bleiler (39.4) to the second and third rank due to a score of 45.1 points. In contrary to the ladies where the USA celebrated a podium sweep no man of the strong US-American squad made it in the top-3. It was Mathieu Crepel from France who earned the best score with 47.0 points winning today’s World Cup ahead of second ranked Nathan Johnstone (43.5) from Australia and Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI, 42.8).

Although she didn’t want to call it obtaining satisfaction the 25-year-old 2002 Olympic Champion was very pleased about her third World Cup win. “For me personally it’s a good feeling to win where I was defeated three years ago” said Kelly Clark. Back then, she had missed the podium as fourth but today she claimed victory due to a very strong second run. After Hannah Teter had taken over the lead of Clark who had placed first after run one of the finals due to a “Backside Air”, “Back-to-back 540’s”, a “Frontside 720” and a “Cab 540” Clark came back having the right answer in her ninth World Cup event throwing in a “Frontside Air”, a “Backside 540” as well as “Back-to-back 720’s” and a “Frontside 540” to conclude her run. “Hannah (Teter) was riding very strong but I just did my run as I wanted it. I’m glad that I won this great event and that the US took 1, 2 and 3.”

Second placed Hannah Teter was also pleased with today’s result. “It reminded me of 2006 as the snow was also as soft as at the Olympics. But what shall I say. I’m in a privileged position being able to do what I want to. I compete with the best in the world and can hand over my price money to kids who are not as privileged as I am” said the 22-year-old 2006 Olympic Champion.

Crepel finishes winning run with a “Frontside 1260”

Mathieu Crepel should also have made his freedom with the halfpipe in Bardonecchia today after he had missed the 2006 Olympic finals as 17th – although “this dates way back. But I have learned what I had to learn from this. Today, it was a new contest.” A new contest and an exciting one as the 24-year-old impressed in the second run of the finals with a brilliant finish which was the icing on the cake of the Halfpipe competition.

Crepel started with a “Frontside 1080” into a “Cab 1080” followed by a “Frontside Air” as well as a “Backside 540” just to finish his run with a “Frontside 1260” as smooth as his other tricks. “After the other riders had attacked in run two I had to step it up, too. And I did it. I’m super stoked. I wanted to give my best, especially as all the fans had cheered so much.”

One of the guys who had put the 2009 World Championships Bronze medallist under pressure was Nathan Johnstone who celebrated his career’s best World Cup result as second – and this with a run featuring “only” four hits. But due to phenomenal amplitude at his “Cab 1080”, “Back-to-back 900’s” and his “lien Air” he was able to impress the five judges. “I’m very happy. I had worked on my amplitude and this paid off. Now, I have to try to squeeze in a fifth trick in my run” said Johnstone after the finals.