With Kjersti Buaas (NOR) and Markus Keller (SUI) two Europeans were able to claim victory in the second to last halfpipe competition of the 2009 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup. The Norwegian, who had also dominated the ladies’ qualifying heat before, earned today’s high score of 43.5 points in her first run already relegating reigning World Champion Jiayu Liu (CHN, 40.3) to the second spot. Thus, the Chinese World Cup leader (4,100) maintained her chance for securing her career’s first ever World Cup title. Elena Hight (USA, 36.3) rounded out the podium as third. On the men’s side, 2003 HP World Champion Markus Keller surprised all of his rivals with his first run earning 43.5 points and thus celebrating the first ever World Cup victory of his career after coming back from a contest break of more than five months. The Swiss rider was accompanied on the podium by US-Americans Louie Vito (41.4) and Steven Fisher (40.1).

Before, both US-riders had tried everything in order to edge off Keller who was in the lead after the first run from the top podium spot. After Fisher “only” jumped from rank five to third due to his “Frontside Air“, “Backside 540“, “Frontside 1080“, “Cab 720“, “Frontside 900“, and “Backside Air” it was Vito who attacked the so far best score of the day. The 20-year-old who turns 21 in just six days, started with “Back-to-back-1080’s” before a badly executed “Straight Air” dashed all of his hopes for victory. Thereafter, the 2005 Junior World Championships runner-up was back to action having not only the halfpipe under control again but also throwing in a smooth “Backside 540” and a final “Back-to-back 900” combination.

“My frontside wall of the pipe was so soft, so I didn’t have enough power for my “air”. (Thus), I’m pretty surprised that I ended up second in my first ever World Cup final. It’s a good season’s wrap up for me as I always had bad luck competing in World Cup competitions so far. But this was a good trip to Spain” said Vito after his tenth World Cup appearance.

The second rank popping up on the score board after his run was tantamount to the first ever World Cup triumph of Markus Keller who thus was clear to be the winner of the competition before dropping in the halfpipe for his second run in the finals which the Swiss rider who had placed on the podium only once before (3rd in Kreischberg 2004) obviously enjoyed with some surfing tricks like “Cutbacks” and “Laybacks”. “I never had something like this before. That was my first ever victory lap and I really wanted it ever since I compete. I’m so stoked.” The 26-year-old had deserved his victory lap with his first run sticking a “Mute to Fakie“, “Cab 720“, “Frontside 900“, “Backside 540“, “Frontside 720“, “Fakie to Stalefish“ and an “Alley Oop McTwist“ to finish it. However, he didn’t have expected this result in the newly built 160 metres long superpipe of the 2011 World Championships host: “Although I did well in the training I never thought of that. But I guess the tough conditions played in my hand.”

Fourth World Cup win for Norwegian

Kjersti Buaas had to wait about one and a half years in order to make it on the podium again. Today, it was time again for her. Just like Keller on the men’s side, the 28-year-old had also set the bar too high for her contenders in the final by earning 43.5 points for her “Frontside Air“, “Backside Air“, “Frontside 540“, “Indy“, “Rodeo 720“ and “Cab 360“. In the end, it not only was a podium finish but also the fourth victory in her 28th World Cup start. “I didn’t expect this although I felt well the whole day. The pipe was difficult to ride so I tried to be easy on the edges and to stay on my feet.” This perfectly worked out as the 2006 Olympic Bronze medalist won praise by Elena Hight.

The 18-year-old who had impressed in the finals with a “Frontside 900” to finish her run with after having performed a “Backside Air“, “Back-to-back 540’s“, “Stalefish“ and a “Backside Tail“ said: “All girls were killing it but Kjersti was the best.” Asked for her career’s best World Cup result so far she added: “Of course I’m happy. It was a beautiful day!”

UK Results

Lesley McKenna 10th
Kate Foster 19th
Dan Wakeham 19th
Ben Kilner 20th
Dom Harington 41st
Sam Cullum 45th

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