...that is what the participants of the 2000/2001 Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup experienced today. For four days in a row the conditions have been almost perfect and the Giant Slalom riders reaped the rewards during the second race of the season here today.
With Sweden's Richard Rikardsson, Slovenian Tomaz Knafelj, Canadian Darren Chalmers and France's Mathieu Bozzetto sitting in the top spots after the first run, they were the top contenders for a podium today, but the end result blew all the odds.
Austrian rider Dieter Krassnig was in 5th place after the first run. Making his way down in the second run, he didn't look as if he could make up the 18 hundreds of a second behind the leading time. It wasn't until he finally worked it out on the lower third of the course, that he was assured the win.
"I just underestimated a jump in the upper part," he said, "and when I went out far I even reduced my speed which usually does not happen. However, sitting in fifth, I was convinced to make it up by putting everything into the second run, so I was quite confident. The course was very selective and you had to use your brain — you had to be strong in the legs to use the edges and some couldn't get the pressure on the board anymore. It was close in the end but I'm glad I made it."
Jasey Jay Anderson from Canada, 7th after the first run, wanted it today and finally finished in 2nd. "It was great," he said, "but I wish I had ridden better in the first run. I made a mistake at that jump — I had to jump off a bit to get balance so it shot me up twice as far, but I landed it and then kind of made a mistake right before the flat which slowed me down drastically. My line was good, I just didn't give it enough energy. The second run was a little better, I was more aggressive — I just missed the win by two hundreds, but I am fine."
Rikardsson also looked really strong in the second run, but just missed the win when he made a mistake right before the finish line and pulled 3rd. "I knew it was curvy the whole way down so I started the last pitch really high, had a good line and meant to keep it all the way. I think I just thought the finish was closer and let it go a little bit too early...I had my focus and it went well but the others were strong too so I'm fine with third."
Italy's Walter Feichter, who won the season's first race at Tignes and finished 8th today, is now further leading the Giant Slalom standings with Krassnig in 2nd and Austria's Stefan Kaltschütz, who ended up 45th today after a crash, in 3rd.
French rider Karine Ruby was wearing bib #1 today and proved that she's back in every discipline by winning the womens' race.
"I'm stoked," she said, "it has been almost three years that I didn't have this bib in Giant Slalom. The course was great and I felt confident. I was trying not to think too much about the last GS at Tignes (leading after the first run she had the finish in sight and dropped out) but the conditions were different today — much better snow and good visibility — so it was just great. I am much more motivated this year so I'm glad the results show this."
Margherita Parini from Italy finished 2nd. "I cannot catch up to last year's shape," she said. "I worked so much in the fall so I just need a little more time to get the battery charged. There's still one more GS to come before Christmas and I will try my best there but I hope I can do better again early next year."
US rider Rosey Fletcher, 2nd after the first run finally finished 3rd. "I don't like to drop back," she said, "but it is becoming more competitive every year so third place is fine. I went into the race with kind of a different mentality; I have been super aggressive and competitive in the past. Today I had a plan, like to ride it smart and didn't want to make silly mistakes so I just went from there. For the first run you don't really know what to expect and you just go for it — you always have to make the best two runs that you can. I put a little bit more fire in my second run but just couldn't make it up so I'm fine with third."
Italy's Carmen Ranigler could not follow up on her win in Tignes and finished 6th today, but is further leading the overall standings ahead of Ruby and Marion Posch from Italy, who was 10th today.
Giant Slalom and Halfpipe move to Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada, on December 16 and 17.
— Britta Semmler, MountainZone.com Correspondent
