Switzerland's Pesko, Japan's Ayono take first in halfpipe.
September 5th, 2007
CARDRONA, New Zealand -- Defending World Cup snowboardcross champion Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT) switched to the halfpipe Saturday and finished second in the season opener with U.S. Snowboarding teammate Clair Bidez (Minturn, CO) in third place. The top U.S. man was Luke Wynen (Mammoth Lakes, CA), who was fourth.
"Both Lindsey and Clair came up just a bit short on the last part of their final run," said Halfpipe Coach Mike Jankowski. "We had three guys in finals and they were going for it, too, but came up a little short on their last hit...just barely short. But they weren't going for fourth or fifth; they were going for the win and that's what we want. That's the Team spirit.
"We do it because we love it. We have the passion for our sport. And we want to win," Jankowski said.
In the first World Cup event held in New Zealand, women's world champion Manuela Laura Pesko of Switzerland turned in a nearly flawless second run to edge Jacobellis with 42.1. Jacobellis had 41.7 and Bidez completed the podium at 39.7.
"My better run was my first," Jacobellis said. "I was able to put my tricks together. I had a blast. It was awesome weather - the best we've had down here and that makes it so much easier to see everything. The winds didn't pickup until the last run. It was snowing in practice and through the first run, but then it stopped.
"It's always nice to start the season with a podium."
Bidez, the reigning Junior World Championships halfpipe gold medalist, also had a better first run as she secured her first World Cup top-3 result. Riders are judged on the better of their two runs.
"I'm so stoked to be riding with Lindsey," Bidez said. "The snow was soft and falling apart in training this week, and it got soft today...but it held together well enough. I certainly can't complain."
Ryoh Ayono of Japan won the men's contest with 45.1 points off his first run; Wynen's 37.9 came on his second run. Elijah Teter (South Lake Tahoe, CA) also was in the top 10 finishers, coming in eighth (31.0).
Jankowski said the weather, which had been problematic through much of the week at this resort between Wanaka and Queenstown, had been expected to be nasty, but it cleared in time for good conditions. "It turned out to be a great day for the riders; the pipe was exceptional and the riders were able to show what they can do," he said.
The snowboarding World Cup schedule resumes Sept. 26-29 in El Colorado, Chile, with a pair of SBX competitions for men and women. The next halfpipe World Cup is scheduled for Nov. 2 in Saas Fee, Switzerland.
SNOWBOARDING WORLD CUP
Cardrona, NZ - Sept. 1, 2007 (Season opener)
Halfpipe
Men (18 make finals)
1. Ryoh Ayono, Japan, 45.1
2. Louri Podladtchikov, Switzerland, 43.2
3. Rolf Feldmann, Switzerland, 39.6
4. Luke Wynen, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 37.9
5. Antti Autti, Finland, 36.4
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8. Elijah Teter, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 31.0
14. Matthew Ladley, Steamboat Springs, CO, 21.9
21. Dylan Bidez, Minturn, CO
22. Tommy Czeschin, Mammoth Lakes, CA
27. Broc Waring, Edwards, CO
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Women (9 make finals)
1. Manuela Laura Pesko, Switzerland, 42.1
2. Lindsey Jacobellis, Stratton Mountain, VT, 41.7
3. Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO, 39.7
4. Soko Yamaoka, Japan, 38.6
5. Queralt Castellet, Spain, 32.6
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13. Kelly Marren, Hillsborough, CA
14. Tricia Byrnes, Aspen, CO
22. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO
For complete results:
www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=23949&cal_suchsector=SB
For photos from Cardrona:
http://ussa.smugmug.com/gallery/3401089
