. world ski news : Magert-Kohli and Fischnaller victorious at season's first parallel event - 13 October 2011 - 23:36
SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP. The two race boarders successfully competed against the international field of almost 100 riders coming from 16 countries at SnowWorld Landgraaf, Holland, where this winter's first parallel slalom was hosted. In the women's big final, Mägert-Kohli relegated last year's indoor World Cup winner Ekaterina Tudegesheva (RUS) to the runner-up position. In the battle for third, Marion Kreiner (AUT) had the better end than surprising fourth ranked rider Nadya Ochner (ITA).
On the men's side, Fischnaller was a nose ahead in the duel for victory with his South Tyrol team mate Aaron March (ITA). Andreas Prommegger (AUT) prevented an Italian podium sweep by edging off Meinhard Erlacher (ITA) to fourth in the small final.
However, the “Squadra Azzurra” of snowboarding was absolutely happy with the best result in the World Cup history. According to this, Roland Fischnaller stated: “I have to speak in high terms of our team. We performed very well today. It's a good sign for the very good team spirit and a good proof that we work together very well. I hope that we can keep on going like this for the rest of the season.”
Besides the outstanding Italian result, which was outshone by his own performance, the 31-years-old Brixen-born was also all smiles about his career's third World Cup win in his 133rd start.
“I was second last year. So, it was definitely my goal to step it up this time. I had a very good preparation and felt very good. This victory is just perfect for me!”
Big outcome for Mägert-Kohli in her ninth attempt
Just like Fischnaller, who had met the requirements of being the odds-on favorite for victory due to his best qualifier time as well as his dominating racing in the head-to-head duels, the #1 lady of this afternoon couldn't stop smiling, too; although Mägert-Kohli had to admit that she had enjoyed the rub of the green on her way to her career's seventh World Cup win in 91 starts so far.
In the second run of the finals, last season's outstanding Russian Tudegesheva cut the wrong edge at the last tip-transition and went down thus opening the door for the 29-years-old Swiss: “Well, I was fortunate. I can say so without any shame. Indeed, I was hoping for a closer and more exciting final but that's parallel snowboarding.”
In nine years of World Cup competitions at SnowWorld Landgraaf, the so-called “World Cup fridge”, Mägert-Kohli had never made it to the podium, until today: “It couldn't be any better as I never podiumed here before. I finished in fourth position last year, so I was close to loosing my nerves at this event. It never was my kind of race and this time, I just won it. It's unbelievable”, said the pharmacy assistant residing in Steffisburg.
FISsnowboard.com
Thursday 13 October 2011