Limone Piemonte, Italy – The second alpine snowboarding event of the 2011 LG Snowboard World Cup season kicked off on Friday in Limone Piemonte, Italy, where the world’s top alpine snowboarders competed in the parallel giant slalom race. Both the Austrians and the Russians came out strong on this first parallel slalom race of the season, sweeping the podiums in both men’s and women’s races.nIn the men’s race, it was all Austria as Olympic silver medalist Benjamin Karl won the men’s race, beating countrymen Andreas Prommegger in the gold medal showdown. Manuel Vieth took the third place to complete the all-Austrian podium.
USA’s Tyler Jewell (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) and Vic Wild (White Salmon, Wash.) finished in fifth and sixth, respectively. Each made it to the quarterfinals. Wild led the Americans in the qualification rounds, heading into the finals with the second fastest red course time, while Jewell was close behind with fourth on the red course.
“I was pretty happy with the result today,” said Wild. “Also I’m really stoked to see Tyler Jewell ride well. It’s just a matter of time until we are both on the podium.”
Matt Morison of Burketon, Ontario, was the only Canadian present at the event and qualified for the elimination rounds by posting the 10th fastest time. In the elimination rounds, Morison conceded defeat to Swiss rider Roland Haldi on his opening duel and ended his day in 10th place.
In women’s action, the Russian snowboarders took everyone by surprise by sweeping the podium. Ekatarina Tudegesheva took the first place, while teammates Alena Zavardina and Svetlana Boldykova took the second and third places.
Tudegesheva, the 2007 World Champion in the discipline, posted her third straight victory in alpine snowboarding. She won final race of the 2010 season, and took the victory in the opening race of the 2011 season in Landgraaf, Netherlands.
She now has nine World Cup podiums FIS World Cup Tour, including five victories.
Lindsey Lloyd, of Centerville, Utah, led the U.S. women in 31st. Canada’s Ekatarina Zavialova of Calgary, Alberta, was the top Canadian with a 21st place. Veteran Caroline Calvé of Montreal, Québec, finished 26th and Ariane Lavigne of Mont-Tremblant, Québec, was 30th.
A parallel slalom race will be held on Saturday prior to the team’s return to North America for a race in Telluride, Colorado.
Official Results
2011 FIS LG Snowboard World Cup
Limone Piemonte, Italy – Dec. 10, 2010
Parallel Giant Slalom
Women
1 TUDEGESHEVA Ekaterina 1987 RUS
2 ZAVARZINA Alena 1989 RUS
3 BOLDYKOVA Svetlana 1982 RUS
4 RIEGLER Claudia 1973 AUT
Men
1 KARL Benjamin 1985 AUT
2 PROMMEGGER Andreas 1980 AUT
3 VEITH Manuel 1985 AUT
4 GALMARINI Nevin 1986 SUI