The last snowboard cross race of the 2009 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season took place in Valmalenco, Italy, on Friday. Maelle Ricker (CAN) and Michal Novotny (CZE) successfully competed against their contenders on the "Barchi" course which was peppered with 18 features. In the ladies' final, Ricker fulfilled her role as top favorite relegating her teammate Dominique Maltais to the second spot after battling with her for position all the way down. Zoe Gillings (GBR) came in third ahead of Italia's Raffaella Brutto.

On the men's side, Czech Novotny crossed the finish line ahead of Nick Baumgartner (USA), David Speiser (GER) and Paul-Henri Delerue (FRA). The Snowboard Cross World Cup title went to Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) who couldn't start today after falling badly in yesterday's qualifiers suffering a concussion and Markus Schairer (AUT) who both had secured the Crystal Globe in Spain last weekend. Austria's Schairer had also missed the season's last race after he had undergone a knee surgery last Sunday. However the reigning World Champion witnessed some close decisions for the day victory where especially Michal Novotny emerged as the man being made for season’s finals.

The Czech rider who had won the 2006 last race in Furano, Japan, was able to secure his career’s second World Cup win in another winter’s wrap up contest: “It’s funny that both of my victories were at the season’s finals. But I’m very happy as this was a day where everything just worked out perfectly.”

Especially in the final, the 27-year-old was cold as steel holding back Nick Baumgartner who was close on his tail waiting for a chance to pass. “Michal (Novotny) rode perfect today. I pulled out first at the start but in the steep part he rocketed and passed me. Thereafter, I tried everything to fight back but he always shot the door right in front of me” second ranked US-American Baumgartner described the battle for his second World Cup win which he lost. But the 27-year-old wasn’t disappointed at all: “I’m so stoked because I think that bumped me into the third position of the final ranking.”

And Baumgartner was right with his estimation as due to his second place today he rounded out the men’s Snowboard Cross World Cup podium as third right behind of title winner Markus Schairer (AUT) and runner-up Seth Wescott (USA). On the ladies’ side, Maelle Ricker jumped into second place behind of Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) thanks to the 1,000 points earned for the win. Sandra Frei from Switzerland finished the World Cup final ranking as third.

Canadian duel for ladies’ victory

Indeed, Maelle Ricker would have secured the second place in the final ranking if she would have concluded the season with a runner-up finish in today’s last race but closing the winter with a win is simply more fun: “I’m so happy as I really wanted to end the season on a good note. In addition, I’m happy that Canada got a 1-2 today.” It was a double victory for her home country which could have ended also vice versa as Ricker and Maltais fought in a tough duel for the victory. “I had the better start but Dom (Maltais) got me in the jump section. But right before the hip jump I was able to pass her again. It definitely was a good race” the 30-year-old said further on.

While Ricker was all smiles, her team mate Maltais was pretty angry with herself: “I’m pissed off with myself although I’m happy for Maelle (Ricker). I had problems with the bank before the hip jump in the training and also fell there in the qualifiers. So I got scared of this turn and almost went down again in the finals.” But below the line, the 23-year-old gave a positive summary about her season: “After all this stuff what happened to me with two broken wrists I’m pleased with how the season was as it went up at the end.”

Close decision in the men's overall World Cup guaranteed

After Lindsey Jacobellis wasn’t able to enter today’s competition, the ladies’ Overall World Cup title goes to Doris Guenther (AUT) as she cannot be overtaken within the last two contests of the season. Due to this, eyes are focusing on next Sunday with the last Parallel Giant Slalom to wrap up the season as Markus Schairer missed start today will count as cut off result so the Austrian gained 110 points back from the SBX opener in Chapelco, Argentina, which haven’t been counted so far.

Thus, the pressure on Siegfried Grabner is even higher now as the race board veteran has to finish in the top-3 on Sunday if he wants to take home the Crystal Globe for the Overall World Cup title. At the moment, the 34-year-old sits in second position having to catch up a gap of 530 points. Asked for this duel, Markus Schairer said: “First of all, I ‘m glad to finally hold the Crystal Globe for the Snowboard Cross World Cup title in my hands. But I’m also hoping for Sunday. Well, for sure I would be happy for Sigi (Grabner) if he would make it but I have to confess I would enjoy my triumph more.”

FISsnowboardworldcup.com
Friday, 20 March 2009 19:54