Landgraaf, The Netherlands – Russia’s Ekaterina Tudegesheva and Austrian rider Andreas Prommegger have each claimed victory in Sunday’s season opener of the 2011 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup.nHeld indoors at SnowWorld Landgraaf, Tudegesheva, 27, clinched her career’s fourth World Cup win in Sunday’s parallel slalom by edging out Austria’s Heidi Neururer. In the battle for third, another Russian, Alena Zavarzina, crossed the finish line only 49 hundredths ahead of reigning World Champion Fraenzi Maegert-Kohli from Switzerland.
Lindsay Lloyd was the top American finisher in 30th place. Caroline Calve was the sole Canadian competitor with a 19th place result.
On the men’s side, Prommegger, 29, also celebrated his career’s fourth World Cup win, leaving Italy’s Roland Fischnaller with no chance in the finals. Aaron March, another Italian, rounded out the podium in third as Solvenian Rok Flander came in fourth.
“I only made it once in the K.O. round of the top 16 here in Landgraaf,” acknowledged Prommegger. “That was at the first contest here in 2003. Normally, I dropped out in the qualifiers. Landgraaf never was my most loved race.”
With his victory on Sunday Prommegger takes the World Cup lead for the first time in his career.
“This is unbelievable, just insane! I’m always motivated for competition, but now, I have an additional stimulant to do well in the next two races,” Pommegger added. “I’m not willing to let go the Yellow Bib easily.”
The season’s next two parallel races aren’t on the schedule for another two months. The race boarders get their next chance to showcase their carving skills Dec. 10-11 in both a parallel giant slalom and a parallel slalom hosted in Limone Piemonte, Italy, home to Fischnaller who has finished in second place six times thus far as he did on Sunday, but has yet to stand atop the podium.
“I turned 30 last month and I for sure don’t want to wait for my first victory until I turn 40,” Fischnaller said with a twinkle in his eye. “I’m pleased with the result. It was a good start into the new season, for me, for my team and a perfect debut for our new head coach Erich Bramsohler.”
American Tyler Jewell scored the best result of four U.S. riders in 20th place, just ahead of the lone Canadian entrant, Michael Lambert, in 22nd.
The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup will now continue on to London, where on Oct. 30 the season’s first big air is scheduled as the highlight of the London Freeze Festival at Battersea Powerstation.
Official Results
2011 LG Snowboard World Cup
SnowWorld Landgraaf, The Netherlands – Oct. 10, 2010
Parallel Slalom
Women
1. Ekaterina Tudegesheva (RUS)
2. Heidi Neururer (AUT)
3. Alena Zavarzina (RUS)
4. Fränzi Mägert-Kohli (SUI)
Men
1. Andreas Prommegger (AUT)
2. Roland Fischnaller (ITA)
3. Aaron March (ITA)
4. Rok Flander (SLO)