2011 WU Update – Day 4 – Snowboard: SBX Finals

Konstantin Schad, the Men’s Gold Medallist in action

ERZURUM – January 30th- Snowboardcross was the first event in the snowboard competition. Yesterday the snowboarders raced the clock one by one for qualifications, unlike the finals where they performed four at a time. Understandably, the most experienced snowboarder was the one to excel on this fairly technical course. Konstatin Schad from Germany was this man; he got the best of his opponents for the day (Omar Visintin (ITA) 2nd and Federico Raimo –(ITA)- 3rd).

Italy signed a superb double but missed the Gold.

Bright sunshine of yesterday turned to falling snow for the first snowboard finals. This was not a problem for Klara Koukalova (CZE) the gold medal winner in the ladies’ finals. She raced elbow to elbow with Claire Chapotot the French surfer who took the Gold Medal two years ago in Harbin just in front of…. Klara Koukalova herself.

“It was really a hard race and that’s what I like and also with a taste of revenge. The course was very good, quite like what we see for European cups, meaning a bit shorter and less technical than for the World Cup. This is a new step in the right direction for my international career ” Said Klara right after the race. Martina Krejcova (CZE) took the third place.

Again, it was a superb double but with the Gold this time.

(text and pictures, Y. Dufour)

Klara Koukalova (CZE): Gold, Claire Chapotot (FRA): Silver and Martina Krejcova (CZE): Bronze

Konstantin Schad (GER): Gold, Omar Visintin (ITA): Silver and Federico Raimo (ITA): Bronze