ROSA KHUTOR, Russia (Feb. 17) - Alex Deibold (Manchester Center, NH) rode to a career first FIS Snowboard World Cup podium Sunday, finishing second in the pre-Olympic snowboardcross test event. U.S. Snowboarding teammate Nate Holland was fourth with Faye Gulini (Salt Lake CIty) eight to lead the U.S. women. Alessandro Haemmerle of Austria won for the men with Michela Moioli of Italy taking the women's race. Deibold picked up his first career podium in his 31st World Cup start.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Alex Deibold (Manchester Center, VT) rode his first career FIS Snowboard World Cup podium finishing second in snowboardcross at Rosa Khutor.
- Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA) was fourth with Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City) leading the U.S. women in eighth.
- Heavy snow fell throughout the competition with around eight inches during the day. Deibold was strong through it all staying on his feet and battling for position.
- Deibold was second in his opening round heat before winning his quarterfinal.
- Despite the weather, riders were impressed with the Olympic course in Rosa Khutor outside Sochi. All of the snowboarding, freeskiing and freestyle venues are in the same sector of the mountain with the alpine venues nearby.
QUOTES
Alex Deibold
I have enjoyed this course all week. It is best World Cup course we have had so far. I think that helped alleviate some of the pressure because it was so much fun to ride. Really looking forward to next year. Great boardercross racing all day, hole shots, passing, crashes, the course was built so well for great racing.
I'm very happy about my first podium. I think it's pretty appropriate. The conditions today made it pretty challenging. There was some hole shots, crashers and a lot of passes. It was pretty tight racing for most of the day. So I would call it a complete race.
I've been enjoying this course since day one. I've been saying the whole week that this has been the best World Cup course. I think that made it easy to compete because it was so much fun.
RESULTS
Official Results
