Bad Gastein, Austria – Russia’s Ekaterina Tudegesheva and Benjamin Karl each won 2011’s first World Cup alpine snowboarding competition Sunday on the Bucheben slope in Bad Gastein.nWith their wins on Sunday, the two Parallel World Cup leaders not only underlined their current position in the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup’s race disciplines but will also travel to La Molina, Spain, as top favorites for gold at the upcoming World Championships, taking place Jan. 15-22.

Sunday’s women’s podium was rounded out by Austrians Marion Kreiner and Claudia Riegler in second and third, respectively, ahead of Isabella Laboeck of Germany in fourth. On the men’s side, Italy’s Aaron March and Simon Schoch of Switzerland took the podium spots right next to Karl with Rok Marguc from Slovenia placing fourth.

Bad Gastein celebrated its 10th anniversary as a World Cup snowboarding host this weekend. With Karl’s win and podium results from Kreiner and Riegler, the 14-member Austrian national team celebrated a successful weekend at home. In fact, it was Karl’s first victory on Austrian snow.

“Finally, I know what winning really is all about,” the 2010 Olympic runner-up said following his triumph on the 240 meter-long course. “Winning in your home country is the best thing an athlete can experience. It’s amazing. It`s unbelievable to celebrate together with your fans and friends from home. It was a very good race.”

“A New Year, a new victory. It feels so good,” added women’s victor Tudegesheva, 23.

But asked about the upcoming World Championships, Tudegesheva reached a different conclusion than Karl. While Tudegesheva kept it modest, saying, “The Worlds are something completely different and have nothing to do with the World Cup. So, I don’t feel any special pressure,” “Big Ben” Karl confidently put his main goal in a nutshell.

“For sure I want to win the title. However, the focus will be on the parallel giant slalom as I haven’t won this Gold medal yet. But it was the same for 2009 and then I ended up winning the parallel slalom,” said Karl, 25. “My shape has been getting better from race to race and I reckon I’m on the top level right now. And I also have proven already that I can handle the pressure. Actually, I do better under pressure.”