The last Parallel Giant Slalom of the 2000/2001 Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup is also one of the longest. Fresh snow had to be removed from the slope early in the morning and the snowfall continued throughout the competition today.
Nicolas Huet from France was in top shape today, except for one run against Joni Vastamaki from Finland in the early finals, he was ahead of his rivals all day long and finally claimed the win.
"This was an amazing race today," he said. "I liked the snow a lot and the slope was just great. I was doing well, especially in the part following the ‘banana‘ and whatever time I had left in the first part of the course I made up there. I liked this slope much more than the flat ones we had at so many sites this season and really enjoyed my riding. Joni has been very strong and I really had to fight but I did not want to risk a crash. I am glad I made it."
Richard Richardsson was his rival for the win in the final duel, but the Swede was behind by 1.35 seconds after the first run and could not make it up in the second due to a crash. He finally pulled 2nd.
"I was not happy with my riding," he said, "and I was lucky that I had made it to the finals. I did not want to take too much risk since it was tough today. Actually, it was only in the very last run that I pulled a good one but then crashed. It was probably the worst competition ever..."
Jasey Jay Anderson from Canada had faced Huet in the semi-final after a crash which resulted in a broken binding. But he got it fixed and continued the race in the small final against Mathieu Bozzetto. Bozzetto won the first run after Anderson crashed again. Bozzetto then crashed right before the finish line but was able to crawl up to turn around the gate and was leading by 1.35 seconds. Anderson made up some time in the second run and was the first to cross the finish line, but he could not close the gap so Bozzetto claimed 3rd place.
"I very much liked this slope," he said, "it could have been a bit longer but it was much better than a couple of flat ones we had this winter. It was tough today, very cold and tiring, but I liked it more than racing in the sun on a worse slope. I went to the French Cup last week and won it so I really felt that in my legs. One more race tomorrow - I cannot wait until the season is finished..."
Anderson took 4th place. "I was struggling a lot from that big crash which destroyed my equipment," he said, "that is why I did not have fun... The broken binding was one thing, but I did not check the boot which was broken also. I was lucky that I could switch it with Mark (Fawcett) - he has exactly the same size and binding angle..."
Bozzetto is still leading the parallel standings but could still be caught in the final parallel slalom tomorrow by Huet and Richardsson.
Italian rider Carmen Ranigler had almost missed the finals after finishing 16th in the qualification, but she started in perfect shape in the finals. There she first won over Karine Ruby from France, her teammate Margherita Parini and then sent Maria Kirchgasser-Pichler from Austria to the small final. In the final duel against Finnish rider Anna Kaltiainen, Ranigler crashed in the first run after Kaltiainen had taken the early lead. When the Finn crashed in the second run, Ranigler pulled it together for her third win in parallel racing this winter.
"This is just great," Ranigler said, "I have been really tired in the past days so I was not calculating for such a result. When I had beaten Karine and Margherita my confidence came back and I was also lucky at some points which I was missing a lot this season."
Kaltiainen pulled 2nd and was very happy. "This is great," she said, "although I was pushing for a win but it was my best result ever and the crowd pushed me to that." Manuela Riegler from Austria took 3rd.
With today’s win, Ranigler claimed the yellow World Cup leader bib and sent Ruby to 2nd place ahead of US rider Rosey Fletcher. Fletcher had crashed in the first final round and took 10th place, but the three will still fight for the World Cup title in the final Parallel Slalom tomorrow.
— Britta Semmler, MountainZone.com Correspondent
