FIS Snowboard World Cup Halfpipe, Ruka (FIN) 13th March 2002

Leading British Half-pipe rider, Lesley McKenna (27, Aviemore) returned to her early season World Cup form today, finishing 6th in the penultimate World Cup Half-pipe event of the season in Ruka, Finland, within sight of the Russian border.

Fresh from an 8th place in Japan and a win at the prestigious Chamjam Big Air competition in France, McKenna qualified for the final in 6th place, putting in a super clean 2nd qualification run.

In the finals, Lesley¹s first run stood as her best of the day, achieving 32.4 points. The performance was marred only by the smallest of mistakes on her last hit ­ an air to fakie ­ where she touched her hand down, incurring a penalty at least 1.5 standard air points and robbing her of a place on the podium.

Nonetheless, McKenna was delighted with today¹s performance. After the event she stated. ³I¹m really psyched to be back on track and am looking forward to the World Cup Finals in Tandadalen next week. I¹ll be in central Europe again this weekend having some fun at the Quiksilver Cup in Les Arcs.²

McKenna currently lies 5th on the FIS World Cup Tour standings. The event was won by, current tour leader, Nicola Pederzolli of Austria

RESULTS
FIS Snowboard World Cup Halfpipe, Ruka (FIN) 13th March 2002

1. Nicola PEDERZOLLI (AUT)40.3
2. Heidi KURKINEN (FIN) 37.6
3. Sabine WEHR- HASLER (GER) 34.2
4. Valerie BOURDIER (FRA) 33.7
5. Kirsti RAUTAVA (FIN) 32.7
6. Lesley McKENNA (GBR) 32.4

[From BSSF]

---