. world ski news : Jacobellis and Vaultier top qualifiers in 1st sbx of the season`s finals - 24 March 2011 - 11:33
SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP. In Arosa, the Swiss resort which hosted the 2007 World Championships, Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) and Pierre Vaultier (FRA) were the fastest riders earning the top seats in today’s qualifiers for tomorrow’s finals of the first out of two snowboard cross races, which open the long and last World Cup weekend of this winter. Both sbx events are the first to be held with heats of six finals.
While Pierre Vaultier led a close men’s decision this morning with 53.35 seconds ahead of reigning World Champion Alex Pullin (AUS, 53.54), Seth Wescott (USA, 53.61), Markus Schairer (AUT) and Jonathan Cheever (USA) – both in 53.67 – as well as David Speiser (GER, 53.77), Nate Holland (USA; 53.80) and Robert Fagan (CAN, 53.82).
Lindsey Jacobellis dominated the ladies time trials. The reigning World Champion not only was .97 seconds ahead of runner-up Eva Samkova (CZE, 56.31). The rider from Stratton, Vermont, also would have made it to the men’s finals of the top 48 with the time of 55.34 seconds.
Besides Jacobellis and Samkova, Nelly Moenne Loccoz (FRA, 56.40) and Alexandra Jekova (BUL, 56.44) are the other two girls to lead one of the four women’s quarter finals of the top 24 tomorrow.
FISsnowboard.com
Wednesday 23 March 2011