SNOWBOARD CROSS. Dominique Maltais (CAN) seems to be as strong as never before. The 32-years old from Montreal won her second time trial session this season, this time the one for the Veysonnaz snowboard cross event taking place tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 PM CET (live on SF).

Maltais, who fittingly was the first to race down the course, posted the best time in 1:03.45 minutes and thus didn't require a second start.
 
The 2006 Olympic Bronze medalist thus seems to be in the perfect shape to lock in another win in Switzerland after having placed third and second in Veysonnaz last season.

"...Wohoo finally I didn't screw up my qualification run and end up 2nd :) Race is on tomorrow :)!" - wrote Alex Jekova on her personal Facebook page just after the qualification

Alexandra Jekova (BUL, 1:03.62) as well as this season's strong Italians Raffaella Brutto (1:04.32) and Michela Moioli (1:04.76) placed second, third and fourth and will thus lead the other quarter finals in the knock out round.

Christopher Robanske wins SBX qualifiers in Veysonnaz

With a strong performance on the World Cup snowboard cross course in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, Christopher Robanske (CAN) has underlined that he is back to racing mode again.

Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT), FIS World Cup Qualifications, SBX (SnowboardCross), Veysonnaz, SUI. March 15, 2013

The national team member residing in North Vancouver, BC, wasn't happy with his early out in the eighth finals at the last World Cup stop in Arosa where he finally ended up on rank 34.
 
Seething with anger, he posted an impressive best time in today's qualifiers in Veysonnaz, where he came in 12th last year.
 
He clinched his career's second best time in the time trials crossing the finish line after 58.33 seconds thus edging off reigning World Champion Alex Pullin (AUS, 58.66 - photo), 2013 Junior World Champion Lucas Eguibar (ESP, 58.74) and Alex Tuttle (USA, 58.79) to second, third and fourth respectively.
 
Interesting side fact – the only time Robanske who seems to be back on top of his game won the qualifiers so far, he also came out first in the men's finals.
 
The ones in Veysonnaz are scheduled for Saturday 1 PM CET with the Swiss National TV to broadcast live.

FISsnowboard.com
Friday, 15 March 2013