SNOWBOARDING NEWS ITEM

First Two Snowboard Cross Races Close Ahead

THURSDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2007

After a break of one year as World Cup host, Valle Nevado welcomes the NOKIA Snowboard FIS World Cup once again. The Chilean winter sport resort will organise – like 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005, Snowboard Cross races. From September 25th to 29th, the first two competitions of the 2007/2008 seasons are on the program – the K.O. finals on 26th and 29th respectively.

It’s already a kind of tradition, that Valle Nevado attracts an extremely strong starter field to battle for World Cup points. This year, all big names of the SBX scene are ready to enter the contests. Besides first ever Olympic Champion of this discipline Seth Wescott (USA), the reigning 2007 World Champions Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) and Xavier Delerue (FRA) will fight for Gold. But the French rider is not only the top aspirant for victory due to his WSC honours. The older brother of Paul-Henri is the most successful snowboarder in Valle Nevado. He won two of six races (2001, 2005) which have been held so far and placed second three times (2002, 2004, 2005). Only once, he didn’t make it into the top three.

But the winner of ten WC races so far isn’t the only one who triumphed twice in Chile. Jacobellis (2004, 2005) and Drew Neilson (2002, 2004) accomplished the same feat. The Canadian is hoping for a similar strong year like last season when “Druid” was able to claim three of four victories and therefore brought home the Crystal Globe in an impressive manner. But although he is entering the season with the goal of winning all races he knows that it won’t be an easy task to fulfil: “I guess my main challengers for the title will be Seth Wescott, Nate Holland and the Delerue brothers plus a few young guns like Stian Sivertzen (NOR) and Pierre Vaultier (FRA).

In addition to the riders being named by the 33-years-old title defender, David Speiser (GER), Alberto Schiavon (ITA), Lukas Gruener and Mario Fuchs (AUT) as well as Michal Novotny (CZE) and Radoslav Zidek (SVK) have also jumped on the podium before. On the women’s side, Overall World Cup winner Doresia Krings (AUT), Deborah Anthonioz and Diane Thermoz Liaudy (FRA), Helene Olafsen (NOR) as well as Switzerland’s Mellie Francon and Sandra Frei are not to underestimate.

All in all, 80 athletes from 21 nations will lead off the fight for this season’s first SBX World Cup points. In addition, good conditions are said to await the riders, with sunny skies and temperatures down to -8ºC at nighttime and up to +4ºC during the day.

Time schedule Valle Nevado, Chile:

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007: Snowboard Cross 1 - Qualification at 09:45
Wednesday, September 26th, 2007: Snowboard Cross 1 - Finals at 12:00
Friday, September 28th, 2007: Snowboard Cross 2 - Qualification at 09:45
Saturday, September 29th, 2007: Snowboard Cross 2 - Finals at 12:00

Qualification start times depend on the size of entry list / All local times.

Source:
www.boardtheworld.com

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