SBX. 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, today.

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.

SBX World Cup Telluride, CO - Finals Men - Pierre Vaultier (FRA) white ahead of Christopher Robanske (CAN) green, Nick Baumgartner (USA) blue and Maximilian Stark (GER) yellow. Photo © Oliver Kraus

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.

Although Vaultier once again beat the strong US force on the Telluride course again, the whole team was celebrating her boarder cross star Jacobellis, who had heard about the fact that no US athlete had been winning before on Misty Maiden the night before the race.

“It seems that it's always me to do a first. 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.”

However, it wasn't an easy win for the 26-years-old from Stratton, Vermont, as Dominique Maltais gave her some hard times on the slope. “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.”

Although she got beaten this time, Maltais, the 2006 Olympic Bronze medalist was still pleased with the race: “It was a very close race. I tried to pass her in the middle but the line I chose turned out to be way to slow. It was a good battle, a good race. I'm happy.”

Three-peat for Vaultier

On the men's side, Pierre Vaultier couldn't believe what just happened after he clinched his third victory in a row in Telluride.

“It's amazing, it's unreal to win three times in a row. But this years win is special. It was the first race of the season and I didn't recognize myself.”

In addition, he got even more psyched that this triumph was clinched on new gear: “It was the first race on a new board, with new bindings. Such a win removes all doubts wether it was the right decision for this change or not. It was worth it!”

FISsnowboard.com
Saturday 17 December 2011

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