The Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup kicks off the year 2001 here in Kreischberg, Austria, this weekend. And this time the venue looks completely different than during the stops here in '97 and '99 as Kreischberg will host the 2003 FIS Snowboard World Championships.
Despite miserable snow conditions at a lot of central European Resorts, at Kreischberg organizers managed to build a Snowboard Cross course shorter than what riders are used to but fit for a truly exciting race.
Pontus Stahlkloo from Sweden dominated the men's races all day long. Having won the qualifications in the morning, Stahlkloo never let up and none of his rivals were able to touch him. By claiming the gold today he added a second win to his scores this season.
"I am feeling pretty good and it looks like I am in excellent shape right now," Stahlkloo said. "This course required some technical skills at the jumps and rollers so it suited me a lot, but it was much shorter than what we are used to. They will build a new Snowboard Cross slope for the World Championships and most like that because this one really is a bit short."
Former golf pro Alexander Koller from Austria looked strong and it seemed he could have taken it today but he finally had to leave it with the Swede. At the start of the final heat he seemed kind of mellow but then picked it up again and finished 2nd.
"It was a nice race and a win would have been great after two years," Koller said, "but I would stop racing if I did not like second place anymore. I was sick for two days and therefore felt a bit tired but that was defininitely not the reason for the bad starts. I tried my best and it paid off. The pressure has gone and I am looking forward to tomorrow — I will take it a bit more relaxed then."
Michael Layer claimed 3rd place. "This is just great," the 22-year old German rider said, "I had some good results in qualification races last year but this is my first-ever podium. Maybe I just wanted a bit too much at the start of the last run, touched the start gate and lost momentum before the first jump, but third place is just great."
Joni Vastamäki was upset with his 4th place finish. "The start was the key and it was just my fault. I let Koller and Michael pass me and could not work it out afterwards — there was no option for me to overtake."
Stahlkloo keeps the lead in the Snowboard Cross standings ahead of Vastamäki, and Koller moved up from 10th to 3rd place.
The women's races were just as exciting with Karine Ruby from France claiming the win and taking the lead in the Snowboard Cross standings. Now, apart from Halfpipe, she leading all World Cup rankings.
"I hope I can keep on like this for a while, maybe at least for one more month and a half...I got more confidence when I won the qualifications, but anything can happen so you are never sure," Ruby said.
Austria's Manuela Riegler took 2nd and said from the finish, "My jump was pretty big and I do not think I have been that far in the air before but at the same time I also lost some speed. When Karine passed me I just could not believe it since she was behind at the start but she was doing excellent so I am fine with second and there is still one more to go tomorrow."
Ursula Fingerlos, the former Snowboard Cross World Cup champion, finished 3rd. "It could have been a better result event but third place is fine," she said. "After I got injured in Canada I feel great to be here at all and was very motivated."
Marie Laissus from France claimed 4th place.
With Ruby taking the lead in the overall standings, Germany's Sandra Farmand dropped back to 2nd while Riegler sits in 3rd.
— Britta Semmler, MountainZone.com Correspondent
