FIS World Cup News

The snowboard cross season concluded with two career's first in Valmalenco, Italy. For the first time ever, Jacqueline Hernandez (USA) and Konstantin Schad (GER) clinched a win in the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup.

In a close and very exciting women's final, the 19-years-old US-American relegated Nelly Moenne Loccoz (FRA) and Zoe Gillings (GBR) to second and third.

Dominique Maltais (CAN), who came in fourth, secured her career's third World Cup title with 4,200 points edging off today's fifth Maelle Ricker (CAN, 3,950) to the second spot in the final World Cup ranking.

On the men's side, Schad brought home the first German Snowboard Cross win since seven and a half years. Andrey Boldykov (RUS) and Lluis Marin Tarroch (AND) rounded out the podium as second and third respectively.

Pierre Vaultier (FRA), who had missed the final event of the season due to an ankle injury had already secured his career's third Crystal Globe two days ago.

The 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup concludes with a parallel giant slalom scheduled in Valmalenco tomorrow.

Key facts

• First World Cup win for Hernandez and Schad
  
• World Cup titles for Maltais and Vaultier
  
• First German win since Saas-Fee, Switzerland, 2004 (Michael Layer)
  
• First podium result for Andorra in the history of the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup
  
• First time since December 2010 (2nd SBX race in Lech, Austria) that no US-American places in the top-3 of the men's competition

Quotes

Jacqueline Hernandez (USA): "It's so awesome. It's the first time ever I won a World Cup, obviously even podiumed. It's an amazing feeling.

The final was really tight. I didn't start in the lead, then I passed, then there was passing everywhere. Then, Maelle (Ricker) fell in the last turn, I just went around her and over the last kicker into the finish."

Konstantin Schad (GER): "That's unbelievable. It was more than necessary as I had won all of my three heats before. Then, he (Marin Tarroch) just rode away, but there was no way I would let him do that.

I had a magic trick in store for the S-passage and it paid off. I'm super stoked!
I'm the second German ever to win a boarder cross World Cup but I won't be the last as we are really very strong!"

Lluis Marin Tarroch (AND): "I'm very happy. It's nice to give something back to all those who believed in me and that it would be possible."

Dominique Maltais (CAN): "Of course I tried to win but couldn't pass.

When you are behind, you start thinking of the ranking. It was pretty stressful out there. I'm relieved that I won the title."

Maelle Ricker (CAN): "What a great race. That's what we live for in sport, to have it come down to that final, final moment. So, I'm still super happy with the day and the season and really looking forward to next year."

Maelle Ricker (CAN) and Stian Sivertzen (NOR) have won the first of two snowboard cross races of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup scheduled in Valmalenco, Italy. In the women's final of the penultimate boarder cross race of the season, the reigning Olympic Champion from Canada relegated Alexandra Jekova (BUL) and Nelly Moenne Loccoz (FRA) to the second and third rank.

The UK's Zoe Gillings came 6th and has shown great consistency throughout the season. Zoe is currently sitting in 7th overall in the FIS World Cup Snowboardcross standings.


SBX World Cup Valmalenco, ITA - Race 1 - Finals - Heat 3 Women - Alexandra Jekova (BUL) in green, Nelly Moenne Loccoz (FRA) in red, Zoe Gillings (GBR) in blue, Jenna Feldman (USA) in black © FIS/Oliver Kraus

On the men's side, Stian Sivertzen celebrated his season's first ahead of Alex Tuttle (USA) and Tony Ramon (FRA) who both finished on a World Cup podium for the first time in their career.


SBX World Cup Valmalenco, ITA - Race 1 - Finals - Heat 12 Men - Stian Sivertzen (NOR) in red, Alex Tuttle (USA) in yellow, Nick Baumgartner (USA) in green, Andrey Boldykov (RUS) in blue, Pat Holland (USA) in black © FIS/Oliver Kraus

While the Norwegian Viking's second World Cup win in his career two weeks ahead of his 23rd birthday was equal to the final end of a long journey from an injury break back to the top of the world, Ricker's back-to-back win in the World Cup circuit now makes the duel for the Crystal Globe a very close one.

With only one last race to come (qualifiers March 15th, finals March 16th), the 33-years-old top qualifiers is now, with so far accumulated 3,950 points, only 110 points behind of current World Cup leader Dominique Maltais (CAN, 4,060), who finished fourth today.

On the men's side, the race for the Globe is over. Despite his out in the semis due to an injury (suspicion of ankle fracture), Pierre Vaultier (FRA) already clinched his career's third World Cup title with 3,852 points.

Key facts

• For Sivertzen, this is a three year come backto the top. In 2009, the 22-years-old suffered several serious head injuries and a torn Aorta in a crash, which took place in the pre-Olympic test event at Cypress Mountain.
  
• The men's Snowboard Cross World Cup title goes to Pierre Vaultier.
  
• Exciting duel for the women's title between team mates Ricker and Maltais
  
• Career's first podium for Tuttle and Ramoin
  
• Top-3 of the women's qualifiers also finish the finals in the same running order.

Quotes

Maelle Ricker (CAN) "It was like the perfect day. The snow was soft but it was still fast. It was a really good final with all the girls. So, there is nothing to complain about.

"I guess the globe is now in my mind. I didn't think I was gonna be close like this before the race. But now, the race on Friday is just more exciting."

Stian Sivertzen (NOR) "It feels so great, what a day! I was strong in the past races but this time, it just worked out for me.

I have waited for this since my injury, so quite a very long time. It was a very tough time. But finally I made it.

No one thought I could ever be back. I was five days in coma and had to learn to walk and ride again. No doctor believed I could do it, but I did it!"

Dutch riders Charlotte Van Gils and Dimi De Jong have won the last freestyle snowboarding event of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season and thus secured the best result for Snowboard Holland in the World Cup history since more than 15 years

Van Gils successfully competed in the women's slopestyle final at Stoneham, Quebec, earning 92 points out of a maximum of 100 points for her run thus relegating Brooke Voigt (CAN, 82.50) and Breanna Stangeland (CAN, 78.25) to second and third respectively.


SBS World Cup Stoneham, CAN - Qualifiers - Charlotte Van Gils (NED) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

While the 25-years-old killed it in the first of two runs, her team mate Dimi De Jong scored the day's high in his second run earning 89 points.


SBS World Cup Stoneham, CAN - Semi Finals - Dimi de Jong (NED) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

Jonathan Versteeg (CAN, 83.75) and Maxence Parrot (CAN, 81.75) rounded out the podium as second and third.

Janne Korpi (FIN), who finished ninth today (62.75), claimed the Overall Freestyle Snowboarding World Cup title (3,990) after he had also been awarded with the Crystal Globe for the Halfpipe and Big Air World Cup win before.

As the last freestyle snowboarding event of this winter wrapped up a long snowboarding week in Quebec the race boarders will take over center stage on a ramp right in the heart of Moscow competing in a parallel slalom on March 3rd.

Key facts

• Winning run Charlotte Van Gils: frontside boardslide, 50/50 backside 180 out, cab 540, frontside 360, backside 360, 50/50
  
• Run Brooke Voigt: tailpress, frontside boardslide, frontside 360 indy, Method, backside 360, 50/50 backside 180 out
  
• Run Breanna Stangeland: switch frontside boardslide, lipslide, frontside 360, backside 360, backside 360, 50/50 to fakie
  
• Winning Run Dimi De Jong: backside lipslide, boardslide to fakie, cab 720 melon, switch backside 900 tail, frontside 1080 tail, 50/50 to fakie
  
• Run Jonathan Versteeg: cab 270 to boardslide, lipslide 270 out, backside 900 tail, cab 1080 tail, switch backside 900 mute, lipslide
  
• Run Maxence Parrot: backside lipslide, backside 360 to 50/50 to backside 180 out, frontside 720 melon, backside 1080 double cork mute, double backflip, backside 180 to switch 50/50
  
• First World Cup start for Van Gils and Versteeg
  
• Runner-up streak for Voigt holds out: at all of her three World Cup events, she finished in second position

Charlotte Van Gils (NED): That was my first World Cup. It was fun. It's different to all the other tours. Every tour has its own system. I actually really like this one because if you ride well in the qualifying you can directly make it to the finals. It was a fun course and a good week. It feels really good to win my first World Cup right away. I wasn't so sure because I had my ups and downs in practice. During competition I got a lot better and it was good.

Brooke Voigt (CAN): I'm really excited to be here. I don't know, I'm kind of overwhelmed right now. It was a good and fun competition and the course was great. Weather was fine, we couldn't have asked for anything better. It's my third time I'm getting silver at World Cups but at least I'm not going down.

Dimi De Jong (NED): I'm very happy. That was a long and tough week. I'm glad it's over now. Wrapping up the week with a win is amazing. I'm really tired but it was worth it. I never thought that I could end up on the podium but a few other guys fell in both runs. Well, that's how it is.

Jonathan Versteeg (CAN): It's awesome, it feels spectacular, that was my first World Cup ever. I barely squeezed through qualifiers but had a good run in the semis. In the finals, I just laid down what I wanted to and all worked out pretty fine for me.

Janne Korpi (FIN): Right now, I don't care about titles as I rode very bad today. And that sucks more than anything else. But yeah, the Globes are some nice trophies.

Antoine Truchon (CAN) has won the last big air competition of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup and thus claimed his career's first World Cup win right on home turf. In Quebec City, the 21-years-old from close to Montreal scored a total of 176.75 points and thus relegated reigning World Champion Petja Piiroinen (FIN, 172.25) as well as his fellow countryman Matts Kulisek (CAN, 170.75) to second and third rank respectively

Janne Korpi (FIN, 169.50), who just had secured the Halfpipe World Cup title two days ago crowned a successful big air season finishing in fourth position thus also taking home the Crystal Globe for the Big Air World Cup.

In addition, Korpi can also prepare for another official title. As tomorrow will bring the season's last freestyle event with the sole slopestyle comp of this winter taking place in Stoneham, the 26-years-old will also be awarded Freestyle Overall World Cup winner. None of his competitors can edge off the 26-years-old from Nummela from the top seat anymore.


BA World Cup Quebec, CAN - Finals - Antoine Truchon (CAN) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

Key facts

• Truchon clinches his first ever World Cup win in his third start. Both attempts before, he had clearly missed the finals as 25th (London) and 41st (Stockholm).
  
• Truchon won with a frontside 1080 double cork (run 1) and a switch backside 1080 double cork (run 2).
  
• Petja Piiroinen secured his second rank with a backside 1080 double cork (run 1) and a frontside 1080 tail (run 3).
  
• Matts Kulisek landed a frontside 1260 melon (run 1) and a backside rodeo 900 (run 2).
  
• Kulisek had placed on the Quebec podium last year already finishing second.

Antoine Truchon (CAN) "Winning my first World Cup on home soil feels pretty good. I'm really happy about that. I really couldn't expect more from this. In the other World Cups before, there was always something wrong. This time I just took all my past bad experiences and tried my best.
I won't sleep tonight. I gonna make this night a legendary one!"

Petja Piiroinen (FIN) "I'm super happy that I landed my tricks, especially the last one. After I crashed in the second run, the pressure was pretty big. I was really nervous before the final hit."

Matts Kulisek (CAN) "I'm really stoked. I'm just doing pretty well at this contest here in Quebec. It's fun at home."


BA World Cup Quebec, CAN - Finals - Podium - 2nd Petja Piiroinen (FIN), 1st Antoine Truchon (CAN), 3rd Matts Kulisek (CAN) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

Xuetong Cai (CHN) and Janne Korpi (FIN) are the 2012 Halfpipe World Cup Title winners.

The 18-years-old Chinese rider secured her career's third consecutive Crystal Globe by claiming victory in the last halfpipe contest of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season. Cai relegated her team mate Shuang Li (CHN) and Haruna Matsumoto (JPN) to the second and third rank respectively.

On the men's side, Janne Korpi celebrated his first ever World Cup title due to a third rank behind of reigning World Champion Nathan Johnstone (AUS) and Taku Hiraoka (JPN).

The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup continues with the season's last big air event in Quebec City, Canada, on FEB 25. The qualifiers will take place tomorrow night already.


HP World Cup Stoneham, CAN - Finals - Ayumu Nedefuji (JPN)) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

Key facts

• Season's second win for Cai, her career's sixth
  
• Second podium ever for Li, third for Matsumoto
  
• Third World Cup win for Johnstone
  
• Winning run Nathan Johnstone: frontside 900 mute, backside 900 melon, frontside 1080 mute, cab 720 taipan
  
• Run Taku Hiraoka: frontside 900 indy, backside 900 melon, frontside 1080 tail, cab 1080 mute
  
• Run Janne Korpi: frontside 1080 tail, cab 1080 nose, backside rodeo alley-oop nose, backside 540 mute
  
• Winning run Xuetong Cai: frontside 540 melon, backside 540 mute, frontside 720 indy, cab 360 tail, frontside Air
  
• Run Shuang Li: frontside air, backside 540 mute, frontside 720 indy, cab 720 nose, frontside 540 melon, backside tail
  
• Run Haruna Matsumoto: frontside air, backside 540, frontside 720 indy, cab 720, frontside 540 melon

Xuetong Cai (CHN) said "I'm very happy about my win and my third World Cup title."

Nathan Johnstone (AUS) added "It was really fun out there. I'm glad the weather held up a bit better today. The pipe was really good. It allowed some good riding. I'm pumped to get that first run landed. I was hoping to build on that in the second run but kind of stumbled on that flat 900 and ran out of pipe but it's all good. I'm still happy!"

Janne Korpi (FIN) said "I'm happy about my third place but kind of disappointed from my run. I didn't do what I was supposed to do. I wanted to do some better tricks. But I didn't land my first run and thus had to do some sort of safety run. I'm happy about my first title. I want to see how the Crystal Globe looks like. I heard it is pretty cool. I will place it somewhere in my house, so I guess I have to think about getting a fire place."

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

The UK's Zoe Gillings took another impressive result at Blue Mountain, Ontario taking 5th place in the latest FIS World Cup snowboardcross event. This leaves Zoe sitting 5th overall in the World Cup standings.


SBX World Cup Blue Mountain, CAN - Qualifiers - Zoe Gillings (GBR) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

Maltais and Vaultier win Snowboard Cross in Blue Mountain and also take over the World Cup lead
BLUE MOUNTAIN, Ontario, Canada (FEB 8) – Dominique Maltais (CAN) and Pierre Vaultier (FRA) have won the season's fourth boarder cross race of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup in Blue Mountain, Ontario, today and thus were able to take over the lead in the SBX World Cup ranking.

While the 31-years-old best qualifier was able to dominate the women's final celebrating her season's first World Cup win ahead of Alexandra Jekova (BUL) and Maelle Ricker (CAN), it was an even tougher ride for the 24-years-old Frenchman earning his career's 13th.

It was a crash of reigning World Champion Alex Pullin (AUS) right before the last jump of the track which opened the door for the two-time World Cup title winner to bring home victory ahead of David Speiser (GER) and Nick Baumgartner (USA) who had crossed the finish line head to head.

The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup continues in Stoneham and Quebec, Canada, from FEB 20 thru 26.

Dominique Maltais (CAN): "I like it when I've a good quali, especially when I have a lot of advantage over the other girls like yesterday. That gives me a lot of confidence.

Today, the conditions changed a lot but I knew that I was still fast up there. Nevertheless, I was pretty nervous.

It's nice to win on home turf although I was focusing on winning in Stoneham. However, Blue Mountain is also home. There were a lot of people watching the Canadians so I wanted to do well."

Pierre Vaultier (FRA): "That doesn't feel like a first rank for me. Chumpy (Alex Pullin) was the king today and led the whole way down. He would have deserved the win. When he crashed, I just had to pass him. But it was an incredible fight with Chumpy.

I might lead the World Cup now but I will not comment on this. There are three more races to go. It's still a long way."

Alex Pullin (AUS): "I'm pretty bumped on the side of the results. It sucks to have the win in the bag and lose it on the last jump.

At one point Pierre (Vaultier) was in front so I had to take a very tight inside line. This put me a bit straighter on the last jump. I expected him to be still there and I just tried to cut it, well, a bit hard. With the bumps, the board just went away and I crashed.

But I'm really happy with my riding. Thats the main thing for me this year. If I would have won, the day would have been perfect."


SBX World Cup Blue Mountain, CAN - Finals - Heat 5 Men - Nikolay Olyunin (RUS) in green, Nick Baumgartner (USA) in red, Anton Lindfors (FIN) in white, Michael Haemmerle (AUT) in blue, Cleve Johnson (NED) in yellow, Michal Novotny (CZE) in black © FIS/Oliver Kraus

On Feb 7 and 8, Blue Mountain, Canada, is about to host the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season's fourth snowboard cross race. Only a few days after the ski cross racers were visiting the biggest winter sport resort in Ontario situated in the Georgian Bay some 150 km north of Toronto, it's time for the boarder cross aces to ride down the 1,200 meters long course designed and build by Jeff Ihaksi (CAN).

The World Cup host debut of Blue Mountain, which will be the first stop of the international contest series in Ontario and also the eighth World Cup venue in Canada after Calgary, AB, Sun Peaks, BC, Whistler, BC, Mt. St. Anne, QC, Stoneham/Quebec, QC, Le Relais, QC and Cypress, BC, have been part so far, will feature the crème de la crème of boarder cross.

Besides X-Games champions Nate Holland (USA) and Dominique Maltais (CAN) almost every one of the world's best will battle for victory except of women's World Cup leader Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) and 2006 and 2010 Olympic Champion Seth Wescott (USA).

While Wescott tore his pectoral muscle in a crash with Markus Schairer (AUT) at the first snowboard cross race at Veysonnaz, Switzerland, a few weeks ago, and thus had to accept a longer race break, Jacobellis had to quit her season due to a torn ACL (left knee) after overshooting the last kicker of the 2012 X-Games course in a training run.

Especially the season's end of the reigning World Champion mixes up the women's World Cup ranking as the 26-years-old from Stratton, Vermont, was the unbeaten rider in the three World Cup races held so far (3,000 points).

According to this, the race for the title and thus the Crystal Globe seems to be a duel between Maltais (2,200) and Alexandra Jekova (BUL, 1,800).

On the men's side, the battle is also tight as Holland (1,940) hasn't got a big lead. Pierre Vaultier (FRA, 1,632), Andrey Boldykov (RUS, 1,420) and Markus Schairer (AUT, 1,269) are all within reach.

The only event of the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup held on the inaugural FIS World Snow Day wrapped up with a double victory for the US-American boardercross team. Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) and Nate Holland (USA) clinched the top spot in the season's third snowboard cross race hosted in Veysonnaz today.

The UK's Zoe Gillings finished in 4th place, which leaves her sitting in 7th place in the World Cup standings.


SBX World Cup Veysonnaz - Qualifiers SBX 2 - Zoe Gillings (GBR) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

While the 26-years-old so far unbeaten female rider from Stratton, Vermont, celebrated a three-peat coming out first in the women's final relegating Dominique Maltais (CAN) and Alexandra Jekova (BUL) to second and third, the fourth ranked athlete of the last Olympic Winter Games held the upper hand in a sprint finish with 2009 World Champion Markus Schairer (AUT).

Emanuel Perathoner (ITA), who went down together with Konstantin Schad (GER) in the double bank section in the men's finals, took advantage of a riding mistake of Maximilian Stark (GER) and came in third.

SBX World Cup Veysonnaz - Finals SBX 2 - Quarter Final Women # 2 - Emilie Aubry (SUI) in blue, Zoe Gillings (GBR) in red, Susanne Moll (AUT) in yellow, Aurore Savoye (FRA) in white, Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (USA) in green, Bell Berghuis (NED) in black © FIS/Oliver Kraus

The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup continues at Sudelfeld end of January. The sole stop on German soil will bring the season's third parallel giant slalom scheduled for JAN 28.


SBX World Cup Veysonnaz - Finals SBX 2 - Semi Final Women # 1 - Dominique Maltais (CAN) in red, Zoe Gillings (GBR) in green, Claire Chapotot (FRA) in white, Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) in yellow © FIS/Oliver Kraus

Key facts

• Three out of three! So far unbeaten boarder cross rider Lindsey Jacobellis extends her World Cup lead to 3,000 points. Dominique Maltais sits in second rank (2,200), Alexandra Jekova in third (1,800).
  
• Due to his fifth World Cup win in his career, Nate Holland takes over the World Cup lead on the men's side having collected some 1,940 points so far. Pierre Vaultier (FRA, 1,632) breaths down his neck as runner-up. Andrey Boldykov (RUS, 1,420) ranks third.
  
• Photo finish in the men's final: in the end, Holland is only a mere of half a board length ahead of Schairer, who was able to catch up in the last part of the course working perfectly through the last roller section.
  
• Holland and Schairer benefit from a crash of Perathoner and Schad who went down in the turn section due to a hard fight for the fastest line.
  
• First World Cup podium for Emanuel Perathoner, who raced his 40th World Cup today.
  
• First World Cup podium for Markus Schairer since March 2009 when he won the sbx in La Molina, Spain.
  
• Sole FIS Snowboard World Cup held on inaugural FIS World Snow Day.

Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) said, "Today was a fight. I didn't have a great start, so I was trying to plan my way down the course and see what opportunities would open up for me.

I was kind of following Dominique (Maltais) down just waiting if I could make a pass somewhere. I saw a little opportunity and just went for it.

It's always a great goal to win every race. I just keep trying my best. I feel like I'm on a role, my body feels good. I'm happy with how I've been approaching mentally this year."

Nate Holland (USA) said "It's awesome. I knew I was riding well on this course. I love this course like I said I love the speed. It's good to hit the podium twice. It's good to be back in race form.

Both (Schad and Perathoner) went down right in front of me in the turn section everybody was talking about the last couple of days.

There was a sucker line. People were complaining about it. I didn't reckon that line all week long. You could dive in and get bumped around or you could stay high and ride it smooth. Now we are done I can tell everyone that."

Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) and Andrey Boldykov (RUS) have won the first out of two snowboard cross races scheduled in Veysonnaz, Switzerland and thus the season's second sbx competition of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup. While the US-American claimed her career's 25th World Cup win by relegating Alexandra Jekova (BUL) and Dominique Maltais (CAN) to second and third respectively, Russia's historical triumphant successfully competed in the men's final edging off top guns Nate Holland (USA) and Pierre Vaultier (FRA) to the second and third spot respectively.

The UK's Zoe Gillings won the small final, coming 7th overall.


SBX World Cup Veysonnaz - Qualifiers SBX 1 - Zoe Gillings (GBR) © FIS/Oliver Kraus


SBX World Cup Veysonnaz - Finals SBX 1 - Alexandra Jekova (BUL) in red, Zoe Gillings (GBR) in green, Emilie Aubry (SUI) in yellow, Klara Chourova (CZE) in black, Carle Brenneman (CAN) in white, Yuka Fujimori (JPN) in blue © FIS/Oliver Kraus

It was the first ever win for a Russian rider in the Snowboard Cross World Cup, the first Russian SBX podium ever since 2002. Almost ten years ago to the date Maria Tikhvinskaja came in second in a snowboard cross race held in Bardonecchia, Italy (JAN 18, 2002).

The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup continues in Veysonnaz. On JAN 21 and 22, the season's third snowboard cross race is scheduled.

Key facts

• Back to back win for Jacobellis who has won both sbx races of this season so far
  
• 25th World Cup win for Jacobellis in her 56th start
  
• First win for Boldykov, first Russian SBX World Cup win
  
• Pierre Vaultier benefits in the men's finals from the disqualification of Mateusz Ligocki (POL) who bumped down from third to sixth rank due to holding against Nate Holland who had filed in the protest.
  
• 10th World Cup podium for Jekova
  
• Jacobellis extends World Cup lead (2,000 points), just as Vaultier does on the men's side (1,600).

Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) said, "Last time I came here I was in a bit of a tangle up, so this was vast improvement. Two years ago, Alexandra (Jekova) landed on me right before the last corner and we all ended up in a big pile up. Thereafter, I even didn't race the consolidation run.

I was riding very well. I wasn't the first out of the start but once I started working the features I could establish the lead. So I was very happy how I was able to put the course together. I felt good every single run.

I'm very happy it's now going to six people. This course was a bit of concern because it's a little narrow in some spots. So it's a little bit dangerous, especially for the guys because they have a little bit more testosterone and they are going for it even more than I'm."

Andrey Boldykov (RUS), "I'm super stoked. It was really some hard work but this is a massive success for Russia.

I was working hard and long for this and constantly improved myself, step by step. However, I didn't expect anything like this today."

Team France has put its stamp on the sole snowboard cross team event of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup, which was organized today in Telluride, CO. On the women's side, Nelly Moenne Loccoz (FRA) and Deborah Anthonioz (FRA) came out first in an enthralling final thus relegating Dominique Maltais (CAN) and Maelle Ricker (CAN) as well as Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) and Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (USA) to second and third respectively.

On the men's side, Pierre Vaultier (FRA) and Xavier De le Rue (FRA) repeated their win of 2009 on the same course. Just a few centimeters behind of Team France and thus second rider De le Rue, Nick Baumgartner (USA) crossed the finish line. Due to the close defeat in a photo finish, Baumgartner and his team mate Jonathan Cheever (USA) had to settle for second rank. Joachim Havikhagen (NOR) and Stian Sivertzen (NOR) rounded out the podium as third.

In the team sbx, two riders form a team. As soon as the first rider crosses the finishes line, the start gate will automatically open for his team mate.

The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup continues with the postponed parallel slalom and parallel giant slalom in Carezza, Italy, on Dec 21 and 22.


SBX World Cup Telluride, CO - Heat 4 Men - Ross Powers (USA) red, Maximilian Stark (GER) yellow, Kevin Leahy (USA) blue, Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) black, Nate Holland (USA) green © Oliver Kraus

Lucile Lefevre (FRA) and Markus Malin (FIN) have celebrated their career's first World Cup win in Ruka. At the season's third halfpipe competition of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup, Lefevre, the best ladies' qualifier, not only secured the top spot with a score of 81.3 points but also took over the Halfpipe World Cup lead with 1,290 points. Facing temperatures around zero degrees, her team mate Emma Bernard (FRA, 80) finished as second while Ella Suitiala (FIN) rounded out the podium with 67.3 points as third.

On the men's side, Markus Malin secured his first ever World Cup win with 94 points and thus also made his fellow country men proud as his top score of the day way also equivalent with the first ever Finnish home turf win in the World Cup history. Steve Krijbolder (NED, 88) came in second in Ruka, which had hosted two World Cup stops in 2001 and 2002 before. Aleksi Kumpulainen (FIN) earned the last spot on the podium bringing home a total score of 83.3.

The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup continues with the sole SBX Team event taking place in Telluride, CO, in just a few hours.


Markus Malin © FIS
Lucille Lefevree © FIS

Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) and Pierre Vaultier (FRA) have clinched victory in the first snowboard cross race of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup which took place in Telluride, CO, yesterday. The US girl successfully competed in the women's final against last year's winner Dominique Maltais (CAN) and Deborah Anthonioz (FRA) and thus locked in the first ever victory of an US athlete in Telluride. Chloe Trespeuch (FRA), 2010 Olympic Champion Maelle Ricker (CAN) and Alexandra Jekova (BUL) missed the podium finishing fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

On the men's side, it was once again Mr. Telluride Pierre Vaultier, who stood out. The 24-years-old Frenchman celebrated his three-peat on the Misty Maiden course by edging off Christopher Robanske (CAN) and Nick Baumgartner (USA) in a heart beat final to second and third. Maximilian Stark (GER), Markus Schairer (AUT) and Omar Visintin (ITA) ranked fourth to sixth respectively.

The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup continues with the season's sole team snowboard cross scheduled for tomorrow in Telluride. In addition, the finals of the season's third Halfpipe World Cup competition will take place in Ruka, Finland, tomorrow, too.

Lindsey Jacobellis said, "It seems that it's always me to do a first (World Cup win). I don't know if its my training program or how everything came together for me today. I just had a lot of fun. It was a great course.

"I noticed that Dominique (Maltais) was right behind me. I could hear her, I could see shadows. I knew she was there. No mistakes could be made because I know she would have capitalized of that. So I was trying to stay as low as possible because I know she glides very well.

"Such a close race makes me really focus and pay attention. You can't be just riding down smoothly to the finish. It makes you pull any piece of energy which you possibly may have left out of your system."

The UK's Zoe Gillings made it through to the semi-finals and finished in 10th place.


SBX World Cup Telluride, CO - Heat 5 Men - Pierre Vaultier (FRA) yellow, Stian Sivertzen (NOR) red, Alex Pullin (AUS) blue, Elias Koivumaa (FIN) green, Hanno Douschan (AUT) black, Nikolay Olyunin (RUS) white © Oliver Kraus

First Snowboard World Cup in Finland after more than nine years.

Almost ten years after the last Snowboard World Cup took place in Finland (March 2002), the North European country is back on the World Cup map. On Dec 16 and 17, the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season's third halfpipe competition will take place in Ruka – parallel to the events held in Telluride, CO. Qualifiers are scheduled for Friday while Saturday will bring the semi finals as well as the night finals at 4 PM local time.

The winter sport resort in Finland's North will host a World Cup for the third time after 2011 and 2002 and is thus still the only venue to ever have organized an event of the international contest series on Finnish soil.

However, although there have been several comps so far, there hasn't been a home turf win for a Finnish rider yet. Nevertheless, in 2002, three halfpipe rippers managed to place on the podium. Heidi Kurkinen and Antti Autti finished as runner-ups while Miikka Hast claimed his spot on the podium as third. Find out Saturday, if the first ever home win will come true.

From Dec 14 till 17, it's time for a long snowboard weekend in the US-American winter sport resort of Telluride, CO, where a total of three events of the running 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season are scheduled. After the season's first parallel giant slalom on Dec 15, the world's best snowboard cross riders are entering their race for the World Cup Globe on Dec 16 (qualifiers on Dec 14). The sole stop of the international competition series in the US concludes with the sole sbx team event of this winter, which will also take place on the long course (Dec 17) built by Jeff Ihaksi.

And it's the single snowboard cross event, with its heats of six in the finals, US Snowboarding pins all hopes on in order to bring home the first ever home turf win in Telluride. The strong squad is lead by 2006 and 2010 Olympic Gold medalist Seth Wescott as well as boarder cross veteran Nate Holland, Nick Baumgartner and Jonathan Cheever. On the women's side, the US team has another iron in the fire: reigning World Champion Lindsey Jacobellis.

In the so far two World Cup SBX events hosted by the resort situated on more than 3,000 meters of altitude, French and Canadian riders had been way out in the front. Beside Maelle Ricker (CAN, 2009) and her team mate Dominique Maltais (CAN, 2010), it was Pierre Vaultier (FRA), who thwarted the home country squad's plans by winning in 2009 and 2010.

Especially the Frenchman's last year's triumph still sits heavily on the proud boarder cross nation's stomach as the 24-years-old edged off Seth Wescott to second on the very last three meters of the men's final.

Reason enough for Nate Holland to rattle his sabres. “An American has never won a World Cup in Telluride. It would be rad to be the first. But many of my team mates are riding pretty well right now, so a US Sweep is what I'm looking for,” said the fourth ranked rider of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, who did bring home his career's second WCS Bronze medal from the 2011 World Championships in La Molina.

Europeans favored in the parallel giant slalom

Even though the competition will be strong for the US team to achieve the goal of a home turf win in the snowboard cross, it might be even harder in the parallel giant slalom the day before as the Europeans seem to be too strong. Austrians and riders from South Tyrol have been dominating the last races, although no one of their teams had been able to win in Telluride so far. In 2009, Canada's Jasey Jay Anderson and Matthew Morison won as well as Rok Flander (SLO) in 2010.

On the women's side, Alena Zavarzina (RUS) won in 2009. So did Fraenzi Maegert-Kohli (SUI). The current Parallel World Cup from Switzerland leader seems to like the slope in Telluride as she also won in 2010.

The FIS / TTR / Olympic argument is ongoing with FIS appearing to have disregarded TTR's offer of assistance at just about every turn. Yes we think of the TTR as huge, but FIS is hugerer and there's no doubt that FIS won't give up Olympic snowboarding in a hurry or that the IOC are even willing to consider an alternative.

Yes, the FIS events are important, which is why we cover them. Yes, the TTR events are also important, which is why we partner and cover those too. But surely, FIS could have seen that working together towards the Olympic goal would have been in the very best interests of the sport and riders. If you're not au fait with the whole argument, then there's a great article in The Economist, which will get you up to speed.

The following article by Ted Ligety, puts another slant on it - see his last pertinent point.

Ted is an Olympic Gold Medallist ski racer and on the U.S. Ski team.

Tyranny of FIS

FIS’s tyranny has gone on long enough. It seems FIS is going out of their way to ruin the sport. FIS runs a dictatorship. They demand absolute control then try to butter their will in a fake cloak of benevolence. Athletes, SRS (Association of Ski Racing Suppliers and NGBs (national governing bodies) are completely impotent in their ability to create positive change in our sport or to stand against rules FIS imposes.

I feel like I might be beating a dead horse on this subject but it is paramount for the future on ski racing. The new rules imposed on ski regulations can’t go through in their current state. They will eventually ruin this sport. As most people already know FIS is imposing new ski regulations that turn back the clock on the evolution of this sport. Giant Slalom has been unfairly targeted. Current rules are >27 meters radius (more sidecut) and minimum length of 185cm, new rules will be >35 meters radius (straight skis from 80’s) and minimum of 195cm. (I currently race on 29-meter radius, 191cm in length skis.) FIS has put together a study that has recorded injuries from 2006-2011. A time frame for which did not allow for any correlations to build between injuries and eras in equipment. We’d need the same info dating back to the early 80’s to see any injury to equipment correlations, not the last 5 years. In FIS’s study they say 36 skiers were “severely” (out for 28 days or longer) injured in downhill, 9 in Super G, 16 in GS and 11 in slalom. They didn’t not take into account that GS is the most skied event, everyone from downhillers to slalom skiers train GS. There are probably 200 GS runs skied for a single downhill run skied and in races there are 2 runs in GS as opposed to one in downhill. Without even doing math it is obvious that the injuries per run in GS are far less then downhill. This begs the obvious question that goes unanswered; why was GS targeted?

On the World Cup it is pretty rare when the vast majority of the athletes agree on anything. The ski regulations, particularly in GS have brought together the athletes like never before 41 out of the top 50 men signed a petition against the rules and in Soelden 15 of the top 20 men in GS (Austrians didn’t come) met to discuss the rules. (It should be noted that only 2 racers have advocated for the rules; Hannes Reichelt and Benjamin Raich along with one Ski Company Amer Sports or also known as Atomic and Salomon.) In which we all opposed the imposed ski regulations and agreed that the ultimate goal was to eliminate FIS from equipment regulation. As athletes we have the greatest incentive to be safe and healthy. We all know how short our careers can be and very few of us are compensated for the risks we take. Therefore, we currently and in the future choose equipment that not only allows us the ability to be fast but to make it to the finish line safely. I have on many occasions chosen skis that were slower but had better control instead of faster and uncontrollable skis. The equipment companies are highly incentivized to keep their athletes healthy as well. They have far more invested in us then FIS and NGBs so they want to protect us as their asset. FIS has shown that they don’t value athletes, as seen in this instance in their complete disregard for our input. FIS’s study was based around 2 on snow sessions with several Europa Cup skiers. Suffice to say that is not nearly enough data to come up with such dramatic conclusions. With just those two tests and with no input from athletes or coaches they pushed the rule though so that there was no opportunity to debate the proposals. The athletes, SRS and the coaches protested and have since proposed a World Cup test where the top 15 athletes would test the new equipment on a World Cup slope but FIS denied this opportunity to evaluation their hypothesis. Proof that FIS has little confidence that their research will hold up under further testing. FIS’s only goal it seems is to look like they are being proactive safety wise though they won’t bare the brunt of the consequences when they don’t work. By making these rules they can say they tried and that may somehow alleviate them of any liability.

FIS has already shown their incompetence in coming up with safer rules in the past. In 2007 they made a rule that made the skis wider which made the skis more aggressive which may have led to injuries by extending the lever arm thus putting more force on the knee. The new rules will make the sport more not less dangerous. Not only did FIS’s study say that there was no statistical difference in force between current skis and new skis but they didn’t measure the torque that will be needed to twist the ski around in a clean manner. Thus creating a larger force on one’s knee. The law of unintended consequences will kick in and most likely create more injuries. The latest generation of World Cup racers has never skied on straight skis so these new skis will be completely foreign (less controllable), making them/us get into awkward body positions and ski in a “jumpy” manner so that we can create enough force to turn them. We will also take a straighter line in which we will slide the top of the turn then hit the edge hard, creating a higher peak force (mostly centered around the bottom of the turn where force is highest already), while leaning back to get the radius needed, since the sidecut in the tip will not allow the ski to turn in a forward/centered body position. Outside of the injuries this type of skiing will create by creating a higher sheering force on the knee (commonly associated with ACL tears), it will also cause greater fatigue, which is one of the leading injury causes. The ski industry has produced many studies tracking millions of skier visits over the last 30+ years in which they have found the advent of sidecut has juristically reduced injuries (mainly to the knee). I’m more inclined to believe a study that has tracked millions of skiers over 30+ years then a study in which testing was concluded in 2 days with less then 10 athletes. Injuries happen when the athletes are taken out of their comfort zone and we will not be in our comfort zone with these skis.

So how will this ruin the sport? The new skis will make skiing at the World Cup level less enjoyable to watch and perhaps more importantly far less enjoyable to participate in while making it more dangerous. Arcing clean turns is a joy everyone racing now days can enjoy. That feeling will be gone. First World Cup athletes will suffer this fate then in a couple years when the rules become FIS wide 15 year old kids will have to turn in their “old” carving skis for long straight skis. This will give the big kids an even bigger advantage and will drive kids out of ski racing; into freesking or the copious amount of other sports kids have available to them. Another way it will ruin the sport is the economically side. Ski racing is to ski technology as Formula 1 is to car technology. This new rule will take that away from ski racing since anyone will be able to buy better skis in a store then we race on. Why would ski companies stay in racing if it were no longer driving technology and sales? Ski companies are the main financial supporters of this sport; the athletes make the majority of their income for their ski companies and the amount equipment built for World Cup skiers is astronomical. If the athletes are no longer driving R&D and sales, the companies will eventually pull their support. Most athletes struggle to make a living at this sport already and without the support of the ski companies most won’t be able to afford to continue racing. And there goes the sport of ski racing.

FIS’s tyranny doesn’t just cover ski regulations but all sponsorships too, from the size of your headgear sponsor to the speed suit to the logo on your goggles. I am particularly concerned about the goggle logo issue for the obvious reason that I own a goggle/helmet company; Shred. FIS has long had a rule that the logo on the goggle strap could not be larger than 15 square centimeters. The rule has been ignored for just as long as it’s been around and for good reason, you can’t read a 15 square cm logo on someone travelling at speed and it was never enforced. This fall, out of the blue FIS decided they were going to enforce this rule, for seemingly no reason. Enforcement now is apparently, first a warning followed by not being allowed to start the race on the second offense. Most logos currently are 40-50 square centimeters. There is no point sponsoring a ski racer let alone start a company based around ski racing when one’s logo is too small to be noticeable. This hurts small companies like mine the most since it greatly takes away Shred’s ability to get valuable impressions to break through. Outside of this rule’s enforcement being a bad idea, it was not made known to companies early enough so they could put together the logistics to comply or what will likely happen in the future, decide their marketing budget is better spent else where. Which gets me to the greater point of FIS seemingly trying to drain the pockets of the athletes, since a large portion of athletes’ income is derived from helmet/goggle companies. I would think it would be in the sports, therefore FIS’s best interest to create value for not only FIS’s sponsors but also the sponsors that allow the athletes to compete at a high level.

Not only will FIS not listen to rejections from SRS and NGB’s on the ski regulations and logo issues as a show of complete power. It wants to fine athletes for speaking out against FIS. I was threatened several years ago for wearing a “FIS SUCKS” sticker on the back of my helmet. (I was 2 minutes late to a pre bid draw meeting and forced to start 45 while I was leading the standings hence the sticker.) I was told that a similar action would result in a 5000 CHF fine. Most recently word is that FIS is thinking about suing Jon Olsson for his choice comments he made on his blog about the ski regulations and posting “FIS SUCKS” logo on his site. At the most recent FIS meeting they discussed punishments for athletes speaking out against them. I quote an excerpt from that meeting, “The Council agreed to develop a “Code” to deal with cases of improper behavior that fall outside the competence of the competition jury to augment the existing rules, such as blasphemy on social networking sites or bringing the sport into disrepute.” Who would have thought that being a ski racer you lose your right to free speech.

One would think there would be some discourse to combat these atrocities but there is not at this point. Apparently Bill Marolt; the President of USSA and Vice President of FIS doesn’t even have the ability to bring these subjects up for discussion, let alone reversed or revised. The athletes to this point have had zero representation in the decisions FIS makes. When we hear of FIS’s decisions and we disagree we are ignored as shown in Soelden. Faceless committees make these decisions, and once the mandates are passed down their ego doesn’t allow them to admit wrong and reverse rules that are so obviously wrong. Unfortunately for alpine ski racing FIS monopolizes the sport so any and all changes will be hard fought or take FIS vastly rethinking their position in how the sport processes or more likely regresses. Perhaps it’s time to unionize the athletes or start an alternative tour. (An athlete union is now developing but it remains to be seen how effective it will be.) This should serve as warning for sports like freeride skiing and snowboarding, don’t let FIS monopolize your sport. FIS will bleed your sport dry of what has made it so cool.

---

By Ted Ligety from www.tedligety.com with permission to repost.

Discuss this story on the SCUK Forum.

Niklas Mattson lifted a curse by clinching the first ever victory of a Swedish snowboarder in the six years of Stadium Winterjam contests. The 19 years-old rider not only secured the triumph he and his national team members had been waiting for quite a while by scoring a total of 172.4 points. Mattsson also celebrated his career's first ever World Cup triumph at the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup's second big air which took place today at the iconic Stockholms Stadion.

Michael Macho (AUT, 167.4) and Alexey Sobolev (RUS, 163.4) rounded out the podium as second and third ranked respectively.


Finals, Big Air World Cup Stockholm - Niklas Mattsson (SWE) © Oliver Kraus

The season's third big air is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2012, in Quebec, Canada.

However, the riders will get the chance to collect some more points for the combined Slopestyle-Big Air World Cup at the World Cup debut of Jasna. The Slovakian resort will host a slopestyle competition on Feb. 4, 2012.

Three weeks after the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season's first big air contest in London, Stockholm will host the second event. On November 19th, the big air cracks will meet in the Swedish capital for the sixth consecutive time since 2006. More than 60 riders coming from 17 nations have applied to start at the 2011 Stadium Winterjam which will take place in the Olympic Stadium of 1912.

The high-class field is led by Janne Korpi (FIN), who not only sits on top of the Freestyle Snowboard Overall World Cup ranking due to his victories in New Zealand (halfpipe) and England (big air) but also clinched the #1 spot at the Stockholm event twice. After the 25-years-old Finn had won in 2007, he was able to keep hold to his title in 2008 thus edging of Chris Sorman to the second spot. In addition, he also hampered the first ever Swedish win at the Stadium Winterjam. Ever since, no rider of the Tre Kroner came closer to a home turf triumph than Sorman did in 2008.

This year, eleven Swedes, led by last year's finalists Kevin Backstrom (fifth rank), Niklas Mattsson (seventh) and Tor Lundstrom (tenth) chance their luck. However, the biggest squad of the field will face some strong competition as Korpi is not the only “Flying Finn” to showcase his tricks. Roope Tonteri (FIN) and reigning World Champion Petja Piiroinen (FIN) are also expected to drop in.

In addition and according to the local organizers, second and third ranked riders of the London Freeze event, Seppe Smits (BEL) and Joris Ouwerkerk (NED) are ready for another podium result.

This season's sole event on Swedish soil also features the likes of top Vikings Staale Sandbech (NOR) and Gjermund Braaten (NOR) as well as Patrick Burgener (SUI), Marko Grilc (SLO), who placed second in 2009 thus missing the top spot by only 0.3 points as well as Big Air-Slopestyle World Cup title defender Clemens Schattschneider (AUT).

Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI)
© FIS/Oliver KrausQueralt Castellet (ESP) and Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) have claimed victory in the season's second halfpipe contest of the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup tour. In the women's competition at Saas-Fee, the 21-years-old rider from Catalonia secured her career's second win with a score of 87 out of a possible maximum of 100 points thus relegating Sophie Rodriguez (FRA, 75.3), who had won last weeks Europa Cup on the Allalin glacier, to the second spot. Ursina Haller (SUI, 75) rounded out the podium as third thus taking over the lead in the halfpipe rankings. On the men's side, 95.3 points were equal to the second victory for Podladtchikov at the highest located freestyle contest of the world wide tour, which is named “Allalin 360” ever since last season. Like in 2010, Ryo Aono (JPN, 91.3) had to be satisfied once again with the second rank. Janne Korpi (FIN, 87), still the leader in the halfpipe and overall freestyle snowboard ranking, finished in third position.

All six podium riders had, just like the other three remaining women and nine remaining men of the finals, to cope with gusty winds, which once again appeared to be part of the event atop of the glacier village, but were able to deliver some high-class riding.

Above all, Iouri Podladtchikov, who was sitting in the snow while listening to some music and waiting for the wind to calm down. When the time came, iPod took advantage of a windless window and dropped in for what turned out to be the winning run: backside 900 mute to frontside 1080 tail, cab 1080 tail, frontside 540 indy and a backside air to finish things off.

“I was so relaxed and just listened to The Doors,” the 23-years-old said. “Just like at my last win here four years ago, I had the same feeling again. A feeling of knowing that I could and would be able to do it. And that's weird as the pipe was icy and it wasn't easy with the wind. But the pipe crew did an amazing job and prepared a perfect pipe. I rarely have runs like this in the training. Even for me, it was a 'wow-run'”.

By winning his career's third, the fourth ranked rider of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics also made some bad memories to forget as Podladtchikov had torn his syndesmosis ligaments last year at the same spot. “I guess I wanted too much last year. So, I tried to take it more relaxed this time. And it worked out. I'm so stoked!”

Castellet comes out on top due to massive air time

While the Swiss national team rider celebrated his third win on home turf, Queralt Castellet was all smiles by winning her second World Cup. And just like the event's top male rider, Castellet seems to have a special connection to the Swiss pipes as she also won here first one in Switzerland: Arosa 2011.


Queralt Castellet (ESP) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

“But I don't think it is related to Switzerland or so. It's got more to do with the top conditions. I'm stoked that I was able to win especially as we all had to cope with the wind while trying to pull down our runs,” explained Castellet.

Throwing in a frontside air to backside 540, frontside 540, backside air and frontside 720, all topped with some incredible amplitude of the tricks, the smallest rider in the field edged off some contenders who might have had more technical runs but didn't stomp them as clean as the Spaniard did.

In the end, not only Sophie Rodriguez (frontside air to McTwist, air to fakie, cab 720, frontside 720 and cab 360) was left standing, but also Ursina Haller who was the only female to try and stick a 900 (frontside 900 to backside 540, frontside 540, backside air, frontside 720, cab 540).

“However, I'm pleased with the result although I could have done better. If I would have pulled down a cleaner run I guess I could have placed better. But I wanted to do this run and am happy that I did so. In the end, it was the right decision,” said 25-years-old Haller.

Only a few days after the season's first big air of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup took place, it's time for the freestyle snowboarders to enter the next round. For the eighth consecutive year since 2004, the glacier village of Saas-Fee, Switzerland, will host the highest event of this international contest series. On November 2nd and 3rd, the season's second halfpipe competition, which has been named “Allalin 360” last year, will take place offering best conditions on 3,500 meters a.s.l.

Since 2010, the Saas-Fee halfpipe shines in new splendor. With a length of 150 meters and an inclination of 16,5° this 22 foot-pipe finally meets the Olympic requirements thus guaranteeing some high-class level of riding.

The field of more than 80 riders coming from 18 countries is led by Swiss icon Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI). However, the 23-years-old two-time Wold Cup winner (Saas-Fee 2007, Arosa 2010) will not only face some tough competition from his fellow countrymen but also from several other international pros.

Besides iPod, there are also Christian Haller (SUI), Patrick Burgener (SUI) and Jan Scherrer (SUI) about to drop in. In addition, last year's winner Tore Holvik (NOR) and 2011 runner-up Ryo Aono (JPN) are also expected to start as well as Janne Korpi (FIN), who won this season's World Cup opener in New Zealand and thus is leading the Halfpipe World Cup standings.

On the women's side, there is also some outstanding riding to expect. With Queralt Castellet (ESP), Sarka Pancochova (CZE), Haruna Matsumoto (JPN) and Ursina Haller (SUI) four girls are ready to go who have all proven already their skills at several events before.

Here's a great little edit of the Freeze Festival FIS event on Saturday at Battersea, London from SCUK partners Route One.


MPORA Action Sports

Janne Korpi (FIN) crowned himself today king of the season's first big air contest of the running 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season. In front of 17,000 spectators right next to the four iconic towers of Battersea Power Station, the Finnish rider, who had already won the first halfpipe World Cup at the season's opening in New Zealand, secured his career's fifth big air triumph with 184 out of possible 200 points. The 25-years-old thus edged off last year's third ranked rider Seppe Smits (BEL, 182.2) with the tiny lead of 1.8 points to the runner-up position. Joris Ouwerkerk (NED) rounded out the podium as surprising third (152.8). The Dutch rider had only entered two World Cup contests before the London Freeze Festival.


Janne Korpi (FIN) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

With winning the second freestyle event of the season, thus clinching his career's ninth triumph, Korpi also extended his lead in the battle for the overall World Cup title for the best freestyle snowboarder of this winter. According to this, the Vihti born was all smiles in the finish area.

“I'm so stoked, I can't believe it. Yesterday, it didn't went well for me. But after the last training session right before the finals, when I landed all of my tricks, I felt pretty comfortable and knew that I would have a chance to win.”


Seppe Smits (BEL) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

High class riding in the finals

The Finn successfully competed by nailing a frontside 1080 double cork melon as well as a switch backside 1260 mute whilst his rivals also used the massive ramp to throw in several 1080 double corks and 12s.

“The level was insane”, said Seppe Smits, who was able to better his last year's result by one spot. “I'm super stoked that I was able to stick my cab 1260 mute inverted and my backside 1260 mute. That feels great.”

Other than Korpi, the Belgium rider won't compete in the second halfpipe contest of the season which will take place in Saas-Fee in just a few days (Nov 2nd and 3rd). “I'm concentrating on slopestyle and big air”, said the 20-years-old.


Winners! © SCUK/Dunx

So does Joris Ouwerkerk, who surprised himself the most today. “I never thought I would have a chance to make it on the podium. I couldn't be any happier”, the 19-years-old stated in the finish area. The talent from the Netherlands earned his top-3 and thus champagne shower spot by bringing down a cab 900 double cork as well as a backside 1080 double cork mute.

The UK's Jamie Nicholls was just two points away from the podium in 4th place and praised the huge crowd for their great support. Ben Kilner (UK), also made it to the final 12, but never quite managed to stick his tricks on the difficult landing.

Check out SCUK's photos from the event on Facebook.


Jamie Nicholls © SCUK/Dunx

In London, October 29th, the season's third event of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup is next up on the agenda. It's the fourth time in a row, that the British capital hosts a winter's first big air competition and thus the sole World Cup event on the island. The contest, which takes place right next to the iconic towers of Battersea Power Station, will also mark the highlight of the three-day winter sport and music festival London Freeze thus attracting many top riders.

However, there is one snowboarder having a very special relationship with the gigantic, 32m high ramp. Marko Grilc (SLO) not only celebrated his first ever World Cup win ahead of Staale Sandbech (NOR) and Seppe Smits (BEL) last year, but also had to handle one of the most challenging experiences of his career three years ago.

The 28-years-old from Ljubljana dislocated his hip during the event and thus had to stay in hospital for a while. The most bitter pill to swallow: he was able to see the event area from his hospital room window.

According to this, the 2009 Innsbruck Air & Style winner said just a few days before the first big air World Cup event gets started: “London is an amazing event for me. I had one of my toughest moments of my life there but also one of my happiest. So it's an emotional place that I love. I can't wait to go there. I have been riding a lot in this pre season and hope all goes well.”

Not far away from the river Thames, Grilc will not only meet again Sandbech and Smits whom he had edged off the top spot last year but also 2011 Big Air-Slopestyle World Cup title winner Clemens Schattschneider (AUT) and reigning World Champion Petja Piiroinen (FIN).

Rumor has it that the London Freeze Festival also features the likes of other stars such as Janne Korpi (FIN), Pat Burgener (SUI), Victor de le Rue (FRA), Gjermund Braaten (NOR), Jamie Nicholls (UK) as well as Rocco van Straten (NED).

For further information on the field... www.relentlessfreeze.com/news/article/athletes_for_ski_snowboard

Top line-up for Saturday

After the riding is done, boarders will concentrate on some fine music as there are several good acts to enter the main stage. According to an event organizer's press release “The Streets”, headliner of Saturday, are about to play their very last concert in London.

So, don't miss the show and get your tickets for Saturday or the whole London Freeze event online at www.relentlessfreeze.com/tickets

TV times

Eurosport 2 and Orange Sports (FRA) will broadcast the big air finals live. Shaw Media/Rogers Sportsnet (CAN) and MTV 3 (FIN) are planning to air the event delayed.

Time schedule London, England – all local times

Saturday, October 29th, 2011: Qualifiers Men at 11:25am
Finals Men at 5pm


Marko Grilc © FIS/Oliver Kraus

www.fissnowboard.com
www.relentlessfreeze.com

The world’s best snowboarders will converge on Saas-Fee in late October for the opening events of the competitive season outdoors in the Northern Hemisphere.

The FIS Freestyle Ski European Cup and the FIS Snowboard European Cup will take place from 24 to 27 October. The FIS Snowboard World Cup follows a week later, from 31 October to 3 November.

This year the competitors will be joined by big names from the world of freeskiing. The competitions held in Saas-Fee are again the opening events for the halfpipe World Cup and European Cup season.

Since last year, the Allalin 360 has incorporated all FIS events that are held in Saas-Fee and revolve around freestyle: the FIS Snowboard European Cup, the FIS Snowboard World Cup, and – new this year – the FIS Freestyle Ski European Cup. All the events are in the halfpipe discipline.

The organising committee’s decision to add freeskiing to the competitions held in Saas-Fee reflects a current trend – from 2014 halfpipe freeskiing will be an Olympic discipline.

“The IOC’s decision back in April 2011 is a milestone for the young sport and presents a great opportunity for the athletes to compete at this prestigious level. Now the numerous freeskiers who will be fighting it out for victory on the halfpipe above Saas-Fee can look forward to the Olympics just as much as their snowboarding counterparts.” said a resort statement.

For years now, Saas-Fee has hosted the first halfpipe tournaments of the season in Europe. In 2011, the season will once again open with thrilling competitions in the Allalin Freestyle Park, at 3300m.

An estimated 200 sportsmen and women are expected for the two European Cups, and at least 100 for the World Cup. The exact figures will only be known shortly before the tournaments, as registrations are still coming in.

www.saas-fee.ch

Xuetong Cai (CHN) and Janne Korpi (FIN) have kicked off their personal seasons with a win. At the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup Opener at Cardrona Alpine Resort, New Zealand, the Chinese World Cup title defender successfully competed in the ladies' final earning a total of 92.8 points. Reigning World Champion Holly Crawford (AUS, 88.5) placed second ahead of Ursina Haller from Switzerland (77.3). On the men's side, Janne Korpi held the upper hand with a winning score of 93 out of 100 possible points. The Fin thus relegated Yiwei Zhang (CHN, 90.8) and Dimi de Jong (NED, 88) to the second and third spot respectively.


Xuetong Cai (CHN), frontside indy © Oliver Krauss

However, the first podium finishes of Zhang and de Jong in their careers weren't the most surprising element of today's finals. It was the impressive performance of Korpi. The 25-years-old, who has already competed in a total of 49 World Cups bringing home twelve podium finishes, was pretty flabbergasted about his riding which, in the end, earned him his career's eighth victory.

“I was only trying to bring down my own run. That worked out fine in the first heat. But I never expected that I would have a slight chance to win here as today was my third day in the halfpipe”, said the two-time Olympian.

In total, the Vihti based rider had only been one week in the snow after an injury of his right shoulder had thrown him back at the end of the last season. “According to this I had decided to enter my preparations for this winter a little bit later. I intentionally took some extra time.”


Janne Korpi (FIN),
backside rodeo alley-oop 540 nose
© Oliver Krauss

Strong riding

It was the right decision as all other eleven finalists had a tough time with the score Korpi had earned for his without exception high and stylish run consisting of backside rodeo alley-oop 540 nose, backside 900 mute, frontside 1080 tail, cab 1080 nose and a frontside stalefish to finish things off.

However, Zhang, who had proofed with backside indy, frontside 1080 indy, cab double cork indy, frontside 900 indy and backside 540 mute that China might play a bigger role in the future of the men's halfpipe riding and Dimi de Jong were the ones coming closest. The 17 years-old Dutch was all smiles after backside melon, frontside 1080 tail, cab 720 melon and frontside 900 tail to backside 9 mute brought him his career's first podium in his 22nd World Cup start.

“I'm really happy as the level of riding was insane. So many 10s, double corks; and everyone was getting so much air time. It feels good to start my season with a result like this.”

World Cup title defender ties on to last season

While Korpi brought home victory to Europe, Xuetong Cai underlined once again the Chinese dominance in the ladies' field. Due to a clean run, which she started with a frontside indy to backside 540 mute, frontside 720, cab 360 and a frontside 540 melon, the 18-years-old nailed her fifth win in her eleventh World Cup start.

But a few girls showed, that the near future could bring some tougher competition for Cai. Especially as besides second ranked reigning World Champion Holly Crawford (frontside lien, japan air, frontside 720 mute, cab 720 melon, frontside 540 melon, backside air) Ursina Haller left her mark being ready to front the strong force from China.

The Swiss was the only one throwing in a frontside 900 – although she had to pay the bill. Right at the first hit of her first run, the 25-years-old caught the coping and crashed. But she did better in her second try bringing down frontside 900 to backside 540 mute, frontside 540 melon, backside air and frontside 720.

“The crash was hard and it wasn't easy for me to try it once again. But fortunately I brought it home”, stated the boarder form Zernez. “I definitely know that the run wasn't clean enough to get more points. But I'm also very satisfied with the result.”

With an eye on the next Halfpipe World Cup, which will take place on Haller's home turf in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, she added: “I will try to go for another podium and to bring down a cleaner run.” That sounds like a good plan as today's winner Xuetong Cai had announced right after the finals that she is definitely ready for some more World Cup wins.

But before the freestyle aces get there second chance for World Cup points and some price money, it's time for the alpine specialists to enter the slopes. The first parallel slalom of the season is scheduled for October 13th in SnowWorld Landgraaf, Netherlands.

www.fissnowboard.com