The competitors list for today's third Parallel Giant Slalom of the 2000/2001 Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup at the Kronplatz, next to Olang, Italy, was longer than it's been in the past three years. Most of the riders used the event to check their form before the World Championships, now less than a week away, while others entered the race hoping to qualify for the 2002 Olympics.
Christopher J. Klug from the USA has obviously recovered from the
liver transplant he had last summer. Eleventh after the qualifications, he made his way to the finals by knocking out Austrian Dieter Krassnig and Slovenian Dejan Kosir to meet Swiss rider Ueli Kestenholz in the semi-finals. Winning both runs, Klug then faced Gilles Jaquet in the final duel. The Swiss finished the first run with a margin of 35 hundredths of a second, but ultimately ceded the win to Klug in the second run by only eight hundredths of a second.
"That was so much fun, I am excited," Klug said. "And it was perfect timing with regard to the Worlds. I was doing pretty good in parallel racing this season but you need a lot of mental strength and it is tough to keep consistency. That was what I focused on today. There were so many good riders, I just went to take some chances and put it all on to the line. That is what I did and it worked out," he said.
Like all first place finishers at the Kronplatz, Klug got a Ducati Monster Dark motorcycle instead of the prize money. "I've got a dirt bike but I do not have a street bike so this is going to be very interesting." Now he's just thinking about how to get it home...
Jaquet was surprised to reach the finals when he entered the race with bib number 51 but he managed to finally pull it together for 2nd place. "I am happy to be in second, especially with this late start in the qualifications," he said, "but the slope has been in a good shape so I felt comfortable. Most of the Swiss came here to get some points for the Olympic qualification since we are with ISF usually and that is why we do not see so many Swiss riders on the podiums, but I think it was a good thing to show that we are there and need to be considered. The organization was good and I really liked the race, I just think it could be a bit less strict."
Kestenholz faced an even bigger challenge with bib number 111, but he finally proved that it is possible, with skill and good course conditions, to move up from that late start position. He met Markus Ebner in the semi-finals and sent him to 4th place by winning both runs against the German.
"I am pretty satisfied with third place," ISF rider Kestenholz said, "since I almost did not think it was possible to make it there with such a high bib. I did not like the fact that I needed to get in from so far behind. When I met Chris in the semi-finals I was kind of confident since I know his riding and watched him today, but then I made this mistake and could not pull it together. I am glad I collected my points today."
Markus Ebner was happy with his 4th place finish. "It was really fun today. The weather was nice and the course in top shape; it could have hardly been any better. Now I feel confident for the World Championships."
France's Nicolas Huet is leading the standings ahead of Kosir. Both were knocked out in the quarterfinals. French rider Mathieu Bozzetto, who was beaten by Kestenholz in round 16, sits in 3rd.
For the first time ever the Italian women's team got a triple win with Marion Posch, Carmen Ranigler and Lidia Trettel sharing the podium in their home country today. Posch won the Parallel Slalom at the Kronplatz two years ago and claimed her second motorbike today (it was a Harley Davidson last time). "I still need to get a driver's licence," she explained, "but I think it is time now so I will work on that in the spring."
Karine Ruby from France finished 4th but still keeps the yellow World Cup leader bib. Ranigler sits in 2nd ahead of US rider Rosey Fletcher who was beaten by Trettel in the quarterfinals today.
The event will continue with the season's fourth Halfpipe contest tomorrow.
— Britta Semmler, MountainZone.com Correspondent
