Bulgarian young snowboard star Alexandra Jekova recorded her best achievement in Snowboard-Cross World Cup - she placed 6-th in World SBX event in Bad Gastein, Austria. Аt the same time bulgarian freestyler Mario Benio participated in his first World Cup event - Big Air in Klagenfurt, Austria. He reach 35 place in this contest.

Fuchs and Francon end hopes of Canadian double at snowboard World Cup meet

BAD GASTEIN, Austria (AP) - Mario Fuchs of Austria and Mellie Francon of Switzerland won the snowboard events at a World Cup meet on Thursday, preventing Canadians Drew Neilson and Dominique Maltais from posting their second win in as many days.

Austria's Mario Fuchs zooms down the course ahead of Italy's Stefano Pozzolini, blue helmet, Xavier Delerue, from France and Austria's Dieter Krassnig, from right, during one of the preliminary heats of the men's World Cup snowboard cross race in Bad Gastein, Austria, on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006. Fuchs won the race ahead of the Canadian athletes Drew Neilson and Tom Velisek. (AP Photo / Andreas Schaad)

Neilson cruised to the final run, but Fuchs - third the previous day - kept home fans happy by fighting off the North Vancouver native for his first career World Cup win.

Neilson was second while Tom Velisek of Vernon, B.C., was third.

Frenchman Xavier Delerue held his lead in the overall standings with 3,340 points. Neilson is second with 3,178 points, followed by Jasey Jay Anderson Mont-Tremblant, Que., with 2,900.

In the women's race, Maltais had to settle for second, but took the lead in the overall standings with 3,240 points.

Teammate Maelle Ricker of Whistler, B.C., is second overall with 3,110 points, followed by Doresia Krings of Austria with 2,970.

Associated Press
Thursday, January 5th, 2006

Canadians take gold in snowboard cross

Montreal (Sportcom) - Drew Neilson of North Vancouver and Dominique Maltais of Petite-Riviere-St-Francois, Que., started the new year in style on Wednesday.  The Canadian riders swept the men's and women's gold medals in the snowboard cross events to open a World Cup snowboard competition in Bad Gastein, Austria.

Drew Neilson from Canada, center, Radoslav Zidek, from Slovakia, left, and U.S. athlete Seth Wescott, right, speed down the course during the semi final of the men's World Cup snowboard cross race in Bad Gastein, Austria, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006. Neilson won the event ahead of Shaun Palmer from the United States and Xavier Delerue from France. (AP Photo/Andreas Schaad)

Tanja Frieden from Switzerland speeds down the course ahead of U.S. athlete Leslee Olson, while Julie Pomagalski from France crashes during the women's World Cup snowboard cross race in Bad Gastein, Austria, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006. (AP Photo/Andreas Schaad)

For Neilson it was his first World Cup win since September 2004 and his 12th career World Cup medal.  After fourth and fifth place finishes at the Whistler World Cup last month, Neilson was gunning for a podium finish. 

''I made some small mistakes at Whistler which I didn't want to repeat here,'' he said.  "I came here to win, I come to every race to win and I expected to do well today.''

Neilson finished ahead of archrivals Shaun Palmer of the U.S., and Xavier Delerue of France, second and third respectively.  ''It was a fast and high quality field for the final.  I'm a happy boy,'' added Neilson.

It wasn't an easy day for Neilson who battled back pains.  "My back was stiff when I woke up this morning and I needed great physio treatment to be race-ready.  Our waxman did a great job today as well.  It was crucial to have the proper wax particularly for the start of the run and we were all flying.''

Jasey-Jay Anderson was 17th. ''Jasey rode well today, I'm not worried, he could potentially win tomorrow (Thursday),'' said Canadian coach Rene Brunner.  Tom Velisek was 18th and Francois Boivin 22nd.

On the women's side, Maltais didn't let the flu slow her down in her quest for her first win this season and second in her career.

In the final, Maltais, the fastest rider in her quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, was quick off the first turn and maintained her lead until the finish.  ''When I arrived on the last third of the run I asked myself whether I would win another World Cup race.  In the last section there were big jumps so I just had to keep my balance.  When I arrived at the finish I couldn't believe it.''

Maltais admitted she would have preferred to stay in bed and recover but it's her coach Rene Brunner who encouraged her to head to the hill.  ''If he would have said you're too sick I probably wouldn't have raced.''

The victory is doubly satisfying for the 25-year-old Maltais, who has endured her fair share of bad luck this season.  ''I didn't have high expectations for today.  I was focused on being steady and avoiding any falls.  I'm really happy. I told myself last night that I would need a strong result today but wondered whether I would be unlucky again.  Now I'm second in the World Cup standings and I have some confidence. I'll try for a repeat performance tomorrow (Thursday).''

Maltais also earned her previous World Cup win in Austria.

Maltais finished ahead of Olivia Nobs of Switzerland and Manuela Riegler of Austria.  Maelle Ricker of Whistler was fourth in the final.  Erin Simmons of West Vancouver was 10th.

Competition continues Thursday with another snowboard cross event for men and women.

TSA.ca
1/4/2006 11:55:06 AM

SNOWBOARD FREESTYLE BIG AIR

Gimpl celebrates first World Cup win 

KLAGENFURT, Austria (AP) - Austria's Stefan Gimpl celebrated his first World Cup victory, winning the Big Air event on the Schleppe Alm on Saturday.

Austria's Stefan Gimpl makes a jump during the men's Big Air snowboard World Cup competition in Klagenfurt, Austria on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006. Gimpl won the event ahead of Ville Uotila and Jaakko Ruha, both from Finland. (AP Photo/Gert Eggenberger)

In a dramatic final round, Gimpl decided the event in his favor with his last jump, outscoring Finland's Ville Uotila, who would also have earned his first career win in the World Cup.

Finlands Ville Uotila makes a jump during the men's Big Air snow board World Cup competition, on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006, in Klagenfurt, Austria. Uotila finished in second place. (AP Photo/Gert Eggenberger)

Uotila was second and his compatriot, Jaakko Ruha, completed the podium. "I am all excited. I don't really know what to say. The Finn also had a great final jump, he would have deserved winning as much as I did," said the 26-year-old Gimpl, who was competing in only his second World Cup event. Thanks to his victory, Gimpl also took over the lead in the World Cup standings with 1,800 points. Finland's Risto Mattila is second with 1,360 and Uotila third on 1,300. 

Associated Press
07/01/2006 23:32