SBX. Today's time trials for the first ever boarder cross in Ontario were held in cloudy weather. Although the view wasn't the best for the riders, the most did get along pretty well with the conditions and the – compared to yesterday's training – more aggressive snow.

SBX World Cup Blue Mountain, CAN - Qualifiers - Alex Pullin (AUS) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

On the men's side, Norwegian Viking Stian Sivertzen, who improved race by race over the past weeks, seems to be back to business after some serious inner injuries suffered at the pre Olympic test event at Cypress in 2009 set him back for almost two seasons.

SBX World Cup Blue Mountain, CAN - Qualifiers - Stian Sivertzen (NOR) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

The 22-years-old one-time World Cup winner nailed it in a time of 1:06.93 minutes thus being ahead of reigning World Champion Alex Pullin (AUS, 1:07.41) and 2009 World Championships Bronze medalist Nick Baumgartner (USA, 1:07,43) by half a second.

Last to qualify in the field of 58 riders was Pat Tunnicliff (CAN) who crossed the finish line after 1:10.83 minutes.

Dom as fast as the men

He thus would have been edged off to 49th position and thus out of the finals which will take place tomorrow at Blue Mountain at 2 PM if Dominique Maltais (CAN) would have been starting in the men's time trials.

SBX World Cup Blue Mountain, CAN - Qualifiers - Dominique Maltais (CAN) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

The 2012 X-Games winner posted an incredible time of 1:09.63 minutes which would have placed her 34th in the men's qualifying ranking and thus ahead of some riders who already have a World Cup win under their belt such as Mateusz Ligocki (POL) and Alberto Schiavon (CAN).

SBX World Cup Blue Mountain, CAN - Qualifiers - Susanne Moll (AUT) © FIS/Oliver Kraus

The 2006 Olympic Bronze medalist however underlined with her time that she will be the one to beat tomorrow as women's qualifier runner-up Alexandra Jekova (1:11.53) was almost two seconds slower than the main contender for the World Cup title.

FISsnowboard.com
Tuesday 7 February 2012

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