Olympic silver medalist Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) defended her 2005 FIS World Championships title, taking gold in snowboardcross at the FIS Snowboard World Championships in Arosa (SUI). She prevailed in the final ahead of Sandra Frei of Switzerland and Norway's only 16-year-old Helene Olafsen, 2006 Junior World Championship silver medalist in snowboardcross. Doresia Krings (AUT) finished fourth.

Jekova, Olafsen, Frieden and Francon / credit (c) G. Bachmann

In the men's competition, Xavier Delerue of France - 2003 FIS World Champion - won again, followed by Seth Wescott, the defending 2005 champion and 2006 Olympic gold medalist, with another USA rider Nate Holland in third place.

“It feels great to successfully defend the title,” said Jacobellis after the final, although she almost missed it! In the semi-final, she came head to head towards the finish line with Julie Pomagalski from France, winning the duel for the final spot in the final in a photo finish: “My start in the semi-final wasn't the greatest but I fought back through the whole pack. In the final, it was way better. I took off right away and had a great ride.”

podium ladies / credit (c) G. Bachmann

Seth Wescott was close to holding on to his title, too, but Xavier Delerue didn't like this idea even though he had second thoughts after the time trials: “I had a bad qualification run and was worried because I did not have that much training after the Olympics. This was my first race since Turin. But I wanted to fight as much as I could and gave it everything I had. This paid off. I think there was no one who wanted the title as much as I did.”

FIS press release
14.01.2007

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