Mägert-Kohli and Fischnaller victorious at season's first parallel
event / Strong performance of the Italian team at SnowWorld
Landgraaf
Fränzi Mägert-Kohli (SUI) and Roland Fischnaller (ITA) have
celebrated the best-possible start into the new season of the LG
Snowboard FIS World Cup. The two race boarders successfully competed
against the international field of almost 100 riders coming from 16
countries at SnowWorld Landgraaf, Holland, where this winter's first
parallel slalom was hosted. In the women's big final, Mägert-Kohli
relegated last year's indoor World Cup winner Ekaterina Tudegesheva
(RUS) to the runner-up position. In the battle for third, Marion
Kreiner (AUT) had the better end than surprising fourth ranked rider
Nadya Ochner (ITA). On the men's side, Fischnaller was a nose ahead
in the duel for victory with his South Tyrol team mate Aaron March
(ITA). Andreas Prommegger (AUT) prevented an Italian podium sweep by
edging off Meinhard Erlacher (ITA) to fourth in the small final.
However, the “Squadra Azzurra” of snowboarding was absolutely happy
with the best result in the World Cup history. According to this,
Roland Fischnaller stated: “I have to speak in high terms of our
team. We performed very well today. It's a good sign for the very
good team spirit and a good proof that we work together very well. I
hope that we can keep on going like this for the rest of the
season.”
Besides the outstanding Italian result, which was outshone by his
own performance, the 31-years-old Brixen-born was also all smiles
about his career's third World Cup win in his 133rd start.
“I
was second last year. So, it was definitely my goal to step it up
this time. I had a very good preparation and felt very good. This
victory is just perfect for me!”
Big outcome for Mägert-Kohli in her ninth attempt
Just like Fischnaller, who had met the requirements of being the
odds-on favorite for victory due to his best qualifier time as well
as his dominating racing in the head-to-head duels, the #1 lady of
this afternoon couldn't stop smiling, too; although Mägert-Kohli had
to admit that she had enjoyed the rub of the green on her way to her
career's seventh World Cup win in 91 starts so far.
In the second run of the finals, last season's outstanding Russian
Tudegesheva cut the wrong edge at the last tip-transition and went
down thus opening the door for the 29-years-old Swiss: “Well, I was
fortunate. I can say so without any shame. Indeed, I was hoping for
a closer and more exciting final but that's parallel snowboarding.”
In nine years of World Cup competitions at SnowWorld Landgraaf, the
so-called “World Cup fridge”, Mägert-Kohli had never made it to the
podium, until today: “It couldn't be any better as I never podiumed
here before. I finished in fourth position last year, so I was close
to loosing my nerves at this event. It never was my kind of race and
this time, I just won it. It's unbelievable”, said the pharmacy
assistant residing in Steffisburg.
Result service:
Women's final result: http://www.fis-ski.com/pdf/2012/SB/7031/7031RLR0.pdf
Men's final result: http://www.fis-ski.com/pdf/2012/SB/7032/7032RLR0.pdf
Women's final bracket: http://www.fis-ski.com/pdf/2012/SB/7031/7031RLRF.pdf
Men's final bracket: http://www.fis-ski.com/pdf/2012/SB/7032/7032RLRF.pdf
To check out news, further information, results as well as photos and videos of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup visit www.fissnowboard.com.
The latest version of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup calendar
can be found here:
http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/disciplines/snowboard/fisworldcup.html
