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Schöffmann and Fischnaller top podium at Montafon Parallel Slalom
Sabine Schöffmann (AUT) and Roland Fischnaller (ITA) have triumphed in the FIS Alpine Snowboard World Cup tour season's first Parallel Slalom which was staged on the Seebliga/Hochjoch right in the heart of Silvretta Montafon, Austria today.
Facing slight rain showers and warm temperatures, the world's best raceboarders were out in Montafon to compete in the second parallel event within three days which wrapped up with a big bang.
Competing on home soil, Schöffmann surprised the world's elite in today's Parallel Slalom (single run format) with a stunning performance in the soft snow. The 22-year-old from St. Veit braved the weather best in the women's competition relegating Amelie Kober (GER) and Alena Zavarzina (RUS) to second and third respectively earning her career's first in her 42nd start.
With at least ten years of her career still to come, Schöffmann was already able to fulfil a dream she had written about in a school essay years ago:
“I'm overwhelmed, and I cannot stop smiling. It's amazing, a dream came true,” she said.
And also second ranked rider Kober paid her respect: “Of course I would have loved to win but you have to admit when someone else was faster than you.”
However, it was easy for the most successful German alpine snowboarder of the past decade to say so after she had missed the knock-out rounds at the Carezza season opener two days ago:
“I was very disappointed. Today's result is definitely a relief as I also secured my ticket to the World Champs,” the mother of one added.
Fischnaller does it again
On the men's side of things, Roland Fischnaller celebrated a back-to-back win. Just like in Carezza, Italy, when the South Tyrolean athlete had triumphed in the season's opener (PGS) two days ago, the 34-year-old once again edged off Zan Kosir (SLO) to the runner-up position. Mirko Felicetti (ITA) rounded out the men's podium as third.
Securing his career's tenth in his 158th World Cup start Fischnaller, the Overall Alpine Snowboard World Cup leader, was more than happy with today's results, especially as he had thought about taking the days off coming back from a tendon injury in his right knee:
“Winning the finals with an advantage of only sixth hundredths I have to admit that I was fortunate today. But I was able to risk more as I'm not afraid to lose. This works fine right now although I still have problems with my knee. But I enjoy racing and the single run format which matches perfectly to my age.”
His rival in the finals, however, tried to find the positive aspects in the second defeat in a row.
“The good thing about losing the final again is that I'm getting closer to the top spot. Nevertheless I feel very fine. I have to train a bit more to get to the top but this will come for sure,” Kosir noted.
While the two-time 2014 Olympic medallist still railed against his fate, another young gun couldn't believe what just happened.
Mirko Felicetti earned his career's first podium result in his ninth World Cup start: “I'm very happy. I liked the soft snow, it played to my favour.”
The FIS Alpine Snowboard World Cup tour continues in Montafon tomorrow with the first ever Parallel Team Event (PSL) in history at 10:50 AM CET.
Facing slight rain showers and warm temperatures, the world's best raceboarders were out in Montafon to compete in the second parallel event within three days which wrapped up with a big bang.
Competing on home soil, Schöffmann surprised the world's elite in today's Parallel Slalom (single run format) with a stunning performance in the soft snow. The 22-year-old from St. Veit braved the weather best in the women's competition relegating Amelie Kober (GER) and Alena Zavarzina (RUS) to second and third respectively earning her career's first in her 42nd start.
With at least ten years of her career still to come, Schöffmann was already able to fulfil a dream she had written about in a school essay years ago:
“I'm overwhelmed, and I cannot stop smiling. It's amazing, a dream came true,” she said.
And also second ranked rider Kober paid her respect: “Of course I would have loved to win but you have to admit when someone else was faster than you.”
However, it was easy for the most successful German alpine snowboarder of the past decade to say so after she had missed the knock-out rounds at the Carezza season opener two days ago:
“I was very disappointed. Today's result is definitely a relief as I also secured my ticket to the World Champs,” the mother of one added.
Fischnaller does it again
On the men's side of things, Roland Fischnaller celebrated a back-to-back win. Just like in Carezza, Italy, when the South Tyrolean athlete had triumphed in the season's opener (PGS) two days ago, the 34-year-old once again edged off Zan Kosir (SLO) to the runner-up position. Mirko Felicetti (ITA) rounded out the men's podium as third.
Securing his career's tenth in his 158th World Cup start Fischnaller, the Overall Alpine Snowboard World Cup leader, was more than happy with today's results, especially as he had thought about taking the days off coming back from a tendon injury in his right knee:
“Winning the finals with an advantage of only sixth hundredths I have to admit that I was fortunate today. But I was able to risk more as I'm not afraid to lose. This works fine right now although I still have problems with my knee. But I enjoy racing and the single run format which matches perfectly to my age.”
His rival in the finals, however, tried to find the positive aspects in the second defeat in a row.
“The good thing about losing the final again is that I'm getting closer to the top spot. Nevertheless I feel very fine. I have to train a bit more to get to the top but this will come for sure,” Kosir noted.
While the two-time 2014 Olympic medallist still railed against his fate, another young gun couldn't believe what just happened.
Mirko Felicetti earned his career's first podium result in his ninth World Cup start: “I'm very happy. I liked the soft snow, it played to my favour.”
The FIS Alpine Snowboard World Cup tour continues in Montafon tomorrow with the first ever Parallel Team Event (PSL) in history at 10:50 AM CET.
Source: fis-ski.com
