Landgraaf, The Netherlands – Fränzi Mägert-Kohli of Switzerland, and Italy’s Roland Fischnaller have each won their first competition of the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup’s new season. The two race boarders successfully competed against an international field of almost 100 riders from 16 countries indoors at SnowWorld Landgraaf, Holland on Thursday.
In the women’s big final, Mägert-Kohli relegated last year’s indoor World Cup winner, Ekaterina Tudegesheva of Russia, to the runner-up position. In the battle for third, Austria’s Marion Kreiner got the better of the surprising fourth-ranked rider, Nadya Ochner of Italy.
On the men’s side, Fischnaller finished a nose ahead of his Italian teammate Aaron March. Andreas Prommegger of Austria prevented an Italian podium sweep by edging out Meinhard Erlacher of Italy in the small final to fourth place.
However, the “Squadra Azzurra” of snowboarding was very happy with their best result in World Cup history. “I have to speak in high terms of our team. We performed very well today,” said Fischnaller. “It’s a good sign for the very good team spirit and a good proof that we work together very well. I hope that we can keep on going like this for the rest of the season.”
Thursday’s victory was Fischnaller’s third victory in 133 World Cup starts. He was the odds-on favorite for victory after laying down the fastest qualifying time earlier in the day.
“I was second last year. So, it was definitely my goal to step it up this time. I had a very good preparation and felt very good. This victory is just perfect for me!” he said.
In the second run of the women’s finals, Tudegesheva cut the wrong edge at the last tip-transition and went down, opening the door for 29-year-old Mägert-Kohli.
“Well, I was fortunate. I can say so without any shame. Indeed, I was hoping for a closer and more exciting final but that’s parallel snowboarding,” said Mägert-Kohli, who logged her career’s seventh World Cup win in 91 starts — and her first in the “World Cup fridge” at Landgraaf.
“It couldn’t be any better as I never podiumed here before. I finished in fourth position last year, so I was close to losing my nerves at this event. It never was my kind of race and this time, I just won it. It’s unbelievable,” said Mägert-Kohli, a pharmacy assistant residing in Steffisburg, Switzerland.