FIS PGS World Championships

[snowmatic]

World Snowboard Championships - Parallel giant slalom Kreischberg (Austria)

which was hold today at Lachtal Styria (5300ft-7300ft / 370-acre / 2 highspeed-six, 8 surface lifts).

Lachtal is a newer made resort from this century. Most lifts (5) are from the decade we are now.

Weather: cloudy, strong wind.

22 gates, single-run race.

Slope: same like PSL, hard and good grip, on very best condition, never sawn as good since a long long time now (sea-level does matter), steeper on start - flater on the middle - something between steep and flat to the end. T-bar lift beside slope.

Podium men:

1. Andrey Sobolev (RUS) - SG.snowboards - AllFlex - F2.Titanium - Northwave.950

2. Zan Kosir (SLO) - Oxess - AllFlex silver - F2.Titanium - Northwave.950

3. Benjamin Karl (AUT) - Kessler - home brew plate - home brew bindings - Nortwave.950

5. Jasey Jay Anderson (CAN)

7. Vic Wild (RUS)

12. Sang-ho Lee (KOR)

21. Darren Gardener (CAN)

28. Justin Reiter (USA)

33. Indrik Trahan (CAN)

37. Michael Trapp (USA)

Exotic riders on PGS from China: 40./41., from Kazachstan: 45., from Hungary: 46./51., from Iran: 47./49.

Podium women:

1. Claudia Riegler (AUT) - BlackPearl - Vist - F2.Titanium - UPZ RC10 white

2. Alena Zavarzina (RUS) - Kessler - AllFlex gold - F2.Titanium - UPZ RC10 blue

3. Tomoka Takeuchi (JAP) - BlackPearl - AllFlex - ACT Gear - Northwave.950

8. Marianne Leeson (CAN)

10. Caroline Calve (CAN)

21. Ariane Lavigne (CAN)

Exotic riders on PGS from China: 39./40., from Kazachstan: 42., from Hungary: 43., from Poland: 26./33./35.

to resume:

- No Germans, Italiens, or Swiss riders on podium. Swiss riders go home without any medals from World Snowboard Championships the first time since 16 Years.

- World Champion Claudia Riegler has now a full set of medals from World Snowboard Championships (gold/silver/brounce). That 41 Years old woman was not able to win a WC race since 2002 (since 13 Years now).

- World Cahmpion Andrey Sobolev did never win a WC race before. On PSL he use a Vist plate, on PGS an AllFlex plate. He did eliminate Vic Wild on 1/8 finals.

- Benjamin Karl holds now a new record. He has new 7 medals from World Snowboard Championships, more than any other rider on men. Even he has 7 medals of the 7 last World Snowboard Championships! On woman Karin Ruby (FRA) is holder of the record (12 medals).

- Marianne Leeson (CAN) failed on a gate, but enter 1/4 finals because Sabine Schoeffmann (GER) was overrun the last gate by some vew inches.

- Jasey Jay Anderson whoops on a gate on 1/4 finals, Zan Kosir beat him.

- Caroline Calve failed on start gate on 1/8 finals. She was to early, crashed to the sheet and had to restart.

- Sang-ho Lee from Korea, 19 Years, was never seen before on finals. His best WC rank is 49.

more:

- Race was hold as a single run format again (the first time ever on WSCS). After qualification runs one gate was set closer to the middle. One course was again too fast. So they did this modification for equalize the finals. On blue course snow was harder/colder then on red course on the steep and on the flat, means it was faster. Red course got more sunshine in the morning, so it was softer and slower there.

- The steep section does the selection. Good riders manage to be good and fast there and enter with speed to the flat section. Riders with lack of skill on snowboards did fail, or get too slow for the flat.

- World Champion Claudia Riegler was the oldest rider from Worldcup (Age: 41 Year).

- There are #TWO competing riders from the "Over 50 club" on this FIS World Snowboard Championships. Vladimir Bella (SVK), he is 55 Years old and get last rank No.52. Leos Prokopec Senior (CZE), is 58 Years old. He did not finish. Vladimir Bella tooks 40 % more time for a run, than slowest Canadian rider. Maybe Vladimir Bella holds-on for to take a Whiskey at a snow-bar beside slope on the run, I don't know. Otherwise he should work a bit on his power, flexibilty, reactivity and riding skill for to follow the younger riders.

beside:

There was a livecam on the race:

race course on hill

finish-line

behind the finish-line

Edited January 23, 2015 by snowmatic

[snowmatic]

Otherwise he should work a bit on his power, flexibilty, reactivity and riding skill

As I read today on a newspaper the #TWO oldies crashed on the run of Worldchampionships at Lachtal Kreischberg 2015.

Prokopec was crossing the course of Bella, hit him and both crashed than to the snow. Bella became a re-run.

By the way, we can find #TWO more riders on FIS races from the "Over 50 club".

Marko Vezovisek from Slovenia, he is 55 Years old,

Fabrizio Fava from Italy, he sis 54 Years old.