Sylvie Paillard
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Two 樱桃视频residents have again reached the status of world's top snowboarders.
Tom Velisek and Maelle Ricker won bronze medals at the snowboard World Cup in Bad Gastein, Austria on Wednesday and Thursday (Jan. 4 and 5) in the rough and tumble sport of boardercross.
The annual FIS World Cup event has put Bad Gastein on the map and draws tens of thousands of spectators to parallel slalom and snowboard cross World Cup events each year.
In boardercross, competitors race simultaneously down an obstacle-filled track. The races last approximately one minute as snowboarders ride through a twisting and turning course that drops some 200 metres.
This snow version of motorcross is exciting to watch, given that anything can happen with four to six riders on the course at once.
Ricker raced alongside teammate Dominique Maltais, who narrowly missed taking the gold, settling for silver instead. Maltais said she was kicking herself for a mistake she made in the final.
"I heard someone scream and I thought it was Maelle, so I went to the outside to let her pass," said Maltais.
Unfortunately it was Mellie Francon of Switzerland who capitalized on the opening winning Wednesday's women's race. "I tried to catch her, but I ran out of real estate," said Maltais. "But I'm pleased we both reached the podium. As for the gold, we'll try again next time."
"We made a communication error," added Ricker. "I'm still pleased with my result. It's a great way to start the New Year."樱桃视频resident Dominique Vall茅e came in 26th in the event.
Velisek competed in two races and qualified in sixth place for both of them, but went out in the first round in the first race. "Fortunately the second race was much better for me and I was able to make it all the way to the finals and place 3rd," he said.Velisek achieved bronze behind Team Canada teammate Drew Neilson of North Vancouver. Neilson took the silver in the Thursday final despite battling the flu.
"I wasn't 100 per cent and I had bad starts all day," said Neilson, adding he was pleased to see his pal Velisek take the bronze. "Tom and I both grew up in Vernon, so it's great to be on the podium together."
Velisek said he was happy to "finally" make it to the podium again.
"I wasn't in 1st like I would want," said Velisek.
Velisek said he'll get a chance for R & R and a visit home before resuming his hectic competition schedule.
"Now it's a few days of freeriding and rest before heading to Italy for the next race," said Velisek. "Then home quickly before heading out to the x-games, then Baker Banked Slalom, then Olympics and so on and so on."
