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Ester Ledecka and Roland Fischnaller earn gold in World Championships parallel slalom
Ester Ledecka (CZE) and Roland Fischnaller (ITA) have won the first of two alpine snowboarding races at the FIS Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria.
On the 400 metres long course in the Lachtal valley, host of the raceboard events of the 2015 worlds, the Czech rising star of the scene kept the momentum after winning the last World Cup race in Bad Gastein two weeks ago and took home the first ever snowboard world title for her home country.
“I don't know what to say. I'm still young enough to compete at the Junior World Championships, so this is just amazing. It's like a dream come true. Bad Gastein was definitely a good sign for me,” the two-time junior world champion of 2013 explained also knowing that every day brings something new.
“Every race, every slope and course is different. This course was very long so there was room for many mistakes,” she said.
But Ledecka made only one mistake. In the first qualification run, she shortly sat down in the snow but fought back ending up with the second best qualifier time, her key to success.
“It was a bad start and very nice finish”, the 19-year-old from Prague summed up.
The women's podium was rounded out by Austria's very own Julia Dujmovits and Marion Kreiner who finished second and third, respectively.
In the men's competition, Fischnaller dealt best with the single run format for the knock out rounds which was used for the very first time in history underlining his strong early-season form by claiming his career's first title.
Taking home gold right in front of Andrey Sobolev (RUS) and 2013 PSL World Champion Rok Marguc, the 34-year-old from Villnoss completed his medal set after bronze in 2011 and 2013 as well as silver in 2013.
“I worked very hard and long for this title. It didn't looked good in the beginning of the season when I suffered a laceration of the tendon in my right tight. Im still racing in pain but I have a good feeling on the boards. So, today I just went for it; although the course wasn't set for me. I had to go to my limits to win today. I'm very proud that I made it,” the yellow-bib holder (PGS World Cup) explained.
The world championships continue tomorrow with the parallel giant slalom in Lachtal. While the qualifiers kick off at 9 AM CET, the finals (single run format) will take place at 1:30 PM CET.
On the 400 metres long course in the Lachtal valley, host of the raceboard events of the 2015 worlds, the Czech rising star of the scene kept the momentum after winning the last World Cup race in Bad Gastein two weeks ago and took home the first ever snowboard world title for her home country.
“I don't know what to say. I'm still young enough to compete at the Junior World Championships, so this is just amazing. It's like a dream come true. Bad Gastein was definitely a good sign for me,” the two-time junior world champion of 2013 explained also knowing that every day brings something new.
“Every race, every slope and course is different. This course was very long so there was room for many mistakes,” she said.
But Ledecka made only one mistake. In the first qualification run, she shortly sat down in the snow but fought back ending up with the second best qualifier time, her key to success.
“It was a bad start and very nice finish”, the 19-year-old from Prague summed up.
The women's podium was rounded out by Austria's very own Julia Dujmovits and Marion Kreiner who finished second and third, respectively.
In the men's competition, Fischnaller dealt best with the single run format for the knock out rounds which was used for the very first time in history underlining his strong early-season form by claiming his career's first title.
Taking home gold right in front of Andrey Sobolev (RUS) and 2013 PSL World Champion Rok Marguc, the 34-year-old from Villnoss completed his medal set after bronze in 2011 and 2013 as well as silver in 2013.
“I worked very hard and long for this title. It didn't looked good in the beginning of the season when I suffered a laceration of the tendon in my right tight. Im still racing in pain but I have a good feeling on the boards. So, today I just went for it; although the course wasn't set for me. I had to go to my limits to win today. I'm very proud that I made it,” the yellow-bib holder (PGS World Cup) explained.
The world championships continue tomorrow with the parallel giant slalom in Lachtal. While the qualifiers kick off at 9 AM CET, the finals (single run format) will take place at 1:30 PM CET.
Source: fis-ski.com
