Valmalenco, Italy – Steamboat Springs, Colo.’s Tyler Jewell led the charge for the USA Saturday, finishing eighth in a parallel giant slalom World Cup in Valmalenco, Italy. France’s Sylvain Dufour and Russia’s Ekaterina Tudgesheva clinched the wins.nJewell grabbed the last qualifying spot in 16th, earning a spot in the finals of the second to last World Cup of the season. Unfortunately, fellow American Vic Wild, of White Salmon, Wash., was on the other side of the cut-off line, just missing the top 16 in 18th.
Qualifying 16th, Jewell was paired with the number one qualifier, Austria’s Benjamin Karl in the first round. Jewell beat Karl advancing to the quarterfinals, where he matched up against Dufour, ending his Valmalenco World Cup campaign.
Dufour went on to eliminate Switzerland’s Roland Haldi in the semifinals and Andreas Prommegger of Austria for the victory. Prommegger finished second with Haldi placed third.
With 5,500 points, Karl has all but cemented the parallel World Cup season title despite his elimination in Saturday’s race.
“Benji (Benjamin Karl) is in incredible shape although he went out in the first round today,” said Prommegger. “There would have to be a lot of luck involved to take over the lead again. So, I’m not really thinking of it. I hope to do well in the last race in Arosa. If I end up on the World Cup podium, I would be very pleased.”
In the women’s race Tudegesheva landed the top spot of the podium with Germany’s Isabella Laboeck and Austria’s Julia Dujmovits in second and third.
Tudegesheva had a stellar season with six wins in the parallel events (slalom, giant slalom) and three wins in four starts in the parallel giant slalom. She wins the Crystal Globe in the parallel races, along with the Overall Speed Crystal Globe awarded to the best rider in both parallel events and snowboard cross.
“I’m very happy,” said the 23-year-old from Tashtagol, Russia. “It’s been a super season and I hope that I can wrap it up with another victory at the season’s finals in Arosa.”
Caroline Calvé of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, finished in fourth place for the second consecutive time this season in parallel giant slalom after doing so earlier this winter at home in Stoneham, Quebec.
Calvé was leading Dujmovits in the bronze medal duel with the maximum penalty of 1.5 seconds, but the Austrian caught up to Calvé at the finish line and both riders finished tied – with 0.00 differential showing on the clock. In FIS tie-breaking rules, the third place went to Dujmovits, who had to come from behind.
Lindsey Lloyd, of Centerville, Utah, was the top American woman finishing in 23rd, failing to advance past the qualifying round.
The World Cup alpine snowboarding circuit heads to Arosa, Switzerland March 27 for a parallel giant slalom race to close the 2011 season.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
World Cup
Valmalenco, Italy – March 19, 2011
Parallel Giant Slalom
Men
1. Sylvain Dufour, France
2. Andreas Prommegger, Austria
3. Roland Haldi, Switzerland
Women
1. Ekaterina Tudegesheva, Russia
2. Isabella Laboeck, Germany
3. Julia Dujmovits, Austria