Pontus Stahlkloo from Sweden and Germany's Sandra Farmand claimed the gold at Whistler, B.C., where the second Snowboard Cross was held yesterday as part of the 2000/2001 Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup.
The riders faced excellent conditions with snow showers early in the day and even occasional sunshine in the afternoon. Pontus Stahlkloo and Jasey Jay Anderson (CAN) dominated the men's race, winning their heats until they faced each other for the first time in the semi-finals. Stahlkloo won the heat, but both advanced to the finals. "This was a very fast course," Stahlkloo said, "and most of the riders were wearing hard boots — my teammate Henrik Jansson and I were the only two of the top 15 qualifiers with soft boots but I could work it out. A good start usually is 90 percent and it was really tough today. Jasey was so fast and once I was ahead after the start I had to keep him behind me whenever there were options to overtake. I am glad I won."
Jasey Jay Anderson was ranked first after the qualifiers and looked as if no one could stop him today — no one, except Stahlkloo. "This course was definitely made for me," Anderson said, "it is just too bad that I was not able to prove it. I was riding well today and I knew I could make it but Pontus is such a good rider and he knew to keep me behind him. It is usually the start that decides a win — I remember this situation from Park City — but here it was less of a start issue, the advantage was just there for him."
Sven Unger from Germany pulled third and proved that his sixth place at the Tignes season opener was not just a question of good luck. "This is unbelievable," he said, "after a heel injury one-and-a-half years ago I had to take a break and could not race for one year so it is just great that I could put it together today. The course was a good one with all those banks, just one leading up to the next without losing speed. I am just coming in now and it is great I worked it out in a field with so many excellent riders."
Winning today, Pontus Stahlkloo claimed the World Cup lead ahead of Unger, as well as Joni Vastamäki from Finland who finished 12th.
Last season's Women's Snowboard Cross World Cup champion, Sandra Farmand (GER) finished second at Tignes in November, proving she's still one to be considered. Yesterday she stepped up and took home the gold. "The course was extremely fast so you had to be in front from the very beginning, there have not been too many options to overtake. Except for the first run when I was second after the start I really managed to be in front and I am so glad I finally got it. I was planning to compete in the halfpipe tomorrow but I do not know if this will happen. I guess there will be some party going on tonight with also the celebration of Sven's third place — it has been some time for the team to claim such results..."
Austria's Ursula Fingerlos finished second and was relieved. "That was not an easy one with so many good riders trying to get it and I am always struggling at the start but it was so much fun racing today so I really like second place." Marie Laissus from France claimed third place while Italy's "Kamikaze" Carmen Ranigler pulled fourth.
Farmand took the lead in the Snowboard Cross standings with France's Karine Ruby dropping back to second when she finished fifth today. Fingerlos is in fifth now.
The halfpipe qualifiers will be on today, with the finals to be held on Sunday.
— Britta Semmler, MountainZone.com Correspondent
