SEOUL, South Korea – Gian-Luca Cavigelli of Switzerland won his first snowboard World Cup title on Sunday, capturing a big air competition on a 112-foot-high ramp built in the South Korean capital's downtown.

Cavigelli finally beat Stefan Gimpl, edging the Austrian after narrowly losing to him in World Cup big air competitions in London, Barcelona and Stockholm.

"I feel great at the moment to have won my first World Cup — it's a super great feeling, super special city, and it's the best," Cavigelli said.

Gimpl remains at the top of the World Cup standings and wasn't disappointed with his finish.

"I'm happy for Gian-Luca; he has been second for quite a few events now and finally he made it and it was just a good show, good event," he said. "I'm stoked."

Gimpl has 3,800 points, Cavigelli is second with 3,100, and Japan's Kazuhiro Kokubo is third with 1,600.

The special setting, the ramp was situated between the 600-year-old Gyeongbok Palace to the back and a statue of the 15th-century ruler King Sejong to the front, brought out the best in Cavigelli.

He set the pace with a big backside 1080 — three rotations in the air — that went unmatched throughout the competition. The rising 22-year-old star then put together three huge, clean jumps that had the crowd roaring.

"It was amazing, so many people and just a special place," he said. "I'm really happy to have won here because it's like a new feeling competing in an Asian country, and definitely Seoul is an amazing city."

Gimpl put the pressure on Cavigelli with a high-scoring opening jump, but touched his hand down on his second. He came back with a strong third run to secure the silver.

World champion Markku Koski of Finland rebounded from a poor first run to win the bronze.

South Korea hosted the snowboarding worlds in January and is bidding to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The next World Cup event begins Tuesday in Telluride, Colo., with parallel GS races that will serve as key Olympic qualifiers.

By Jean H. Lee,
Associated Press Writer
Sun, Dec 13, 2009, 11:46 am ET

300'000 visit Seoul big air

The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup big air drew huge crowds to the city center of Seoul (KOR). The specially-built ramp located on Gwanghwamun Plaza in the backyard of the Korean President was visited by a reported 300'000 visitors over the course of the weekend, with around 150'000 during the course of Sunday morning's qualifications and the evening finals. A high profile opening ceremony took place on Friday with an enthusiastic address from the Mayor of Seoul in the presence of number of Korea's leading personalities from the world of sport, business and politics before a show on the big air ramp giving spectators a taste of the action to expect over the weekend. Saturday's program included an invitational event before the highlight of the Seoul Snow Jam took place on Sunday evening with the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup big air competition.

An elite field of 29 riders from 10 nations travelled to Seoul, and the best of them turned out to be 21-year-old Gian-Luca Cavigelli (SUI) who clinched his first World Cup win ahead of World Cup leader and reigning champion Stefan Gimpl (AUT) and current world champion Markku Koski (FIN) who rounded out the podium. Runner-up in the big air competitions in London and Barcelona, Cavigelli was thrilled with his first World Cup victory "the whole set up here in Seoul was unbelievable. The kicker was super, everything was right to give full gas!"

FIS Snowboard Race Director Marcel Looze was delighted with the outcome of Seoul's first big air competition: "We can be really pleased with the fantastic promotion for Snowboarding through this event in Seoul. The ramp, its location and the masses of spectators created a really special competition. Compliments to the organizers for a great job!"

This week, it is time for another LG Snowboard FIS World Cup premiere in Telluride (USA) where the schedule includes a SBX and two PGS World Cup events.

Suomu, Northern Finland hosted the opening of the 2009/10 FIS Freestyle World Cup season with back-to-back mogul events. Swede Jesper All major FIS World Cup disciplines have now seen their Olympic season get underway. During the coming weekend the Freestyle aerials season will begin in Changchun (CHN) with two individual events and a test-style mixed team event, while the first World Cup in ski cross will take place in Innichen / San Candido (ITA) on 21st-22nd December.

FIS news
16/12/2009

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