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Lindsey Jacobellis and Pierre Vaultier win season's first snowboard cross

Saturday, 17 December 2011

Lindsey Jacobellis and Pierre Vaultier win season's first snowboard cross

TELLURIDE, CO, USA (Dec. 16) – Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) and Pierre Vaultier (FRA) have clinched victory in the first snowboard cross race of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup which took place in Telluride, CO, today. The US girl successfully competed in the women's final against last year's winner Dominique Maltais (CAN) and Deborah Anthonioz (FRA) and thus locked in the first ever victory of an US athlete in Telluride. Chloe Trespeuch (FRA), 2010 Olympic Champion Maelle Ricker (CAN) and Alexandra Jekova (BUL) missed the podium finishing fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

On the men's side, it was once again Mr. Telluride Pierre Vaultier, who stood out. The 24-years-old Frenchman celebrated his three-peat on the Misty Maiden course by edging off Christopher Robanske (CAN) and Nick Baumgartner (USA) in a heart beat final to second and third. Maximilian Stark (GER), Markus Schairer (AUT) and Omar Visintin (ITA) ranked fourth to sixth respectively.

The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup continues with the season's sole team snowboard cross scheduled for tomorrow in Telluride. In addition, the finals of the season's third Halfpipe World Cup competition will take place in Ruka, Finland, tomorrow, too.

Key facts
Lindsey Jacobellis secures the first ever win of an US-American in Telluride
Close battle for victory between Jacobellis and Maltais
Pierre Vaultier remains unbeaten in Telluride winning again in 2011 after having been the top gun in 2009 and 2010 before
First ever appearances in the finals and thus career's best results for Robanske, Trespeuch, Stark and Visintin
24th World Cup win for Jacobellis in 55 starts
12th World Cup win for Vaultier in 37 starts

Quotes

Lindsey Jacobellis (USA): It seems that it's always me to do a first (World Cup win). I don't know if its my training program or how everything came together for me today. I just had a lot of fun. It was a great course.

I noticed that Dominique (Maltais) was right behind me. I could hear her, I could see shadows. I knew she was there. No mistakes could be made because I know she would have capitalized of that. So I was trying to stay as low as possible because I know she glides very well.

Such a close race makes me really focus and pay attention. You can't be just riding down smoothly to the finish. It makes you pull any piece of energy which you possibly may have left out of your system.

Dominique Maltais (CAN): It was a very close race. I tried to pass her in the middle but the line I chose turned out to be way to slow. It was a good battle, a good race. I'm happy.

Pierre Vaultier (FRA): It's amazing, it's unreal to win three times in a row. But this years win is special. It was the first race of the season and I didn't recognize myself.

In addition, it was the first race on a new board, with new bindings. Such a win removes all doubts wether it was the right decision for this change or not. It was worth it!

I don't know why I haven't been beaten on this course. It's nothing special to me. It's a race like all others. And I want to win the races.

Christopher Robanske (CAN): I had ten months off, did some recovery as I broke my back at the X-Games last season. So, this is an amazing way to come back strong. I'm super happy.

I rode as hard as I could and with no regrets. And here we are. It was a close battle with Pierre (Vaultier). He is a big idol of mine. I watch a lot of his riding. So I'm super stoked to be right behind him.