Branas, Sweden – Current men’s World Cup skicross leader Andreas Matt of Switzerland and Anna Holmlund of Sweden each won Sunday’s World Cup skicross race in Branas, Sweden.nCanada’s Chris Del Bosco was second behind Matt with Conradign Netzer of Switzerland in third. In the women’s field, Kelsey Serwa of Canada was second to remain in the hunt for the season skicross title, and Norway’s Marte Hoeie Gjefsen third.
“It goes down to the last race. Kelsey is still in the running,” said Canada Ski Cross assistant coach Brent Kehl. “She has been racing well all year long, with injuries. She’s been a trooper and don’t forget that we missed one World Cup (in Germany, to attend X Games), so I think she would be very deserving of the overall title.”
Serwa was hot on Holmlund’s heels throughout Sunday’s final but wasn’t able to pass her at the bottom. Serwa remains third in the overall World Cup standings with 530 points, behind Germany’s Heidi Zacher (567), who finished fourth on Sunday, and new leader Holmlund (572).
“It’s a close game – 1-2-3 all within 50 points,” said Serwa. “In the end, whoever is best is going to win. It’s not luck by any means.”
On the men’s side, Del Bosco narrowly lost a tight battle with Matt to finish second in the men’s final. Conradign Netzer, of Switzerland, was third and the Czech Republic’s Tomas Kraus was fourth. Matt has a big lead in the overall standings with 779 points, ahead of Del Bosco (515) and Finland’s Jouni Pellinen (422).
“It was tight racing,” said Del Bosco. “I didn’t leave enough room going into the final straight. I’ve given myself a shot in pretty much every race going down the stretch here. You always look to win but I’ve been really consistent. Any time you make the final you are skiing well.”
John Teller, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., led three U.S. men into the finals. Jean Christophe Rudigoz, of Ketchum, Idaho, was 30th. A new face in Sunday’s final was Brant Crossan, of Steamboat Springs, Colo., who was competing in his third World Cup race. This was Crossan’s first finals appearance, finishing 27th.
World Cup skicross racing heads to the 2013 World Championship venue of Myrkdalen-Voss, Norway Mar. 19 for the final race of the season.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS World Cup
Branas, Sweden – Mar. 13, 2011
Skicross
Men
1. Andreas Matt, Switzerland
2. Chris Del Bosco, Canada
3. Conradign Netzer, Switzerland
Women
1. Anna Holmlund. Sweden
2. Kelsey Serwa, Canada
3. Marte Hoeie Gjefsen, Norway