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Jacqueline Hernandez and Konstantin Schad win last boarder cross of the season

Sunday, 18 March 2012

Jacqueline Hernandez and Konstantin Schad win last boarder cross of the season / World Cup title goes to Dominique Maltais

VALMALENCO, Italy (MAR 16) – The snowboard cross season concluded with two career's first in Valmalenco, Italy. For the first time ever, Jacqueline Hernandez (USA) and Konstantin Schad (GER) clinched a win in the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup.

In a close and very exciting women's final, the 19-years-old US-American relegated Nelly Moenne Loccoz (FRA) and Zoe Gillings (GBR) to second and third.

Dominique Maltais (CAN), who came in fourth, secured her career's third World Cup title with 4,200 points edging off today's fifth Maelle Ricker (CAN, 3,950) to the second spot in the final World Cup ranking.

On the men's side, Schad brought home the first German Snowboard Cross win since seven and a half years. Andrey Boldykov (RUS) and Lluis Marin Tarroch (AND) rounded out the podium as second and third respectively.

Pierre Vaultier (FRA), who had missed the final event of the season due to an ankle injury had already secured his career's third Crystal Globe two days ago.

The 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup concludes with a parallel giant slalom scheduled in Valmalenco tomorrow.

Key facts
First World Cup win for Hernandez and Schad
World Cup titles for Maltais and Vaultier
First German win since Saas-Fee, Switzerland, 2004 (Michael Layer)
First podium result for Andorra in the history of the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup
First time since December 2010 (2nd SBX race in Lech, Austria) that no US-American places in the top-3 of the men's competition

Quotes
Jacqueline Hernandez (USA): It's so awesome. It's the first time ever I won a World Cup, obviously even podiumed. It's an amazing feeling.

The final was really tight. I didn't start in the lead, then I passed, then there was passing everywhere. Then, Maelle (Ricker) fell in the last turn, I just went around her and over the last kicker into the finish.

Konstantin Schad (GER): That's unbelievable. It was more than necessary as I had won all of my three heats before. Then, he (Marin Tarroch) just rode away, but there was no way I would let him do that.

I had a magic trick in store for the S-passage and it paid off. I'm super stoked!

I'm the second German ever to win a boarder cross World Cup but I won't be the last as we are really very strong!

Lluis Marin Tarroch (AND): I'm very happy. It's nice to give something back to all those who believed in me and that it would be possible.

Dominique Maltais (CAN): Of course I tried to win but couldn't pass.

When you are behind, you start thinking of the ranking. It was pretty stressful out there. I'm relieved that I won the title.

Maelle Ricker (CAN): What a great race. That's what we live for in sport, to have it come down to that final, final moment. So, I'm still super happy with the day and the season and really looking forward to next year.