Last year's Overall World Cup Champion "Mr. Bombastic" Matthieu Bozzetto from France proved again why he is one of the top favorites for this year's World Cup with a win at today's parallel slalom in Morzine, France — the season's first after cancellations in Tandadalen and Kaprun due to the weather conditions.

	Bozzetto

After a disappointing start at the season opener in Tignes, France, Bozzetto realized at the two Canadian stages that giant slalom is not as bad as he thought it was (he was almost ready to drop the GS from his competition schedule) and captured two consecutive wins. However, parallel slalom racing remains his favorite race.

"It's quite simple," he said, "I don't like packed snow and this is the same for all disciplines. During the qualifications...although I finished first there, people came up to me and stated that this has not been my best performance ever. Therefore I didn't feel very confident for the finals: Eight runs at these conditions — I could hardly believe I'd succeed...When it got warmer just before the finals and the slope turned out to be softer it was perfect for me and it could not have been any better. I've put 100 percent into my runs from the very beginning on," he added.

"I always feel some pressure especially when racing against Karine [Ruby]... I knew I had a chance to win if I could beat her and then it happened in the semi finals...."— Isabelle Blanc, FRA

Bozzetto watched out for his teammate and friend Nicolas Huet on that course. When he met the reigning parallel slalom World Champion in the semi finals it was very close but Bozzetto made it. "The most difficult run was the one against Nico because we are quite equal and it could have been him also. With the two of us it's just alternating and this time it was me again," said Bozzetto.

The final duel against Dieter Krassnig was also expected to be pure excitement but he dropped out in both final runs and had to leave it to the French. Huet faced Richard Richardsson in the consolation round for 3rd place but he lost to the Swede and didn't share that podium with Bozzetto. What a surprise when both were finally called up to the stage for the Parallel World Cup ranking: Two riders sharing the yellow leader jersey is unique in the history of the Snowboard FIS World Cup and also interesting because these friends who also spend most of their time together!

	Blanc

France's Isabelle Blanc contributed to the total French triumph by beating Marion Posch from Italy and taking the gold in the womens' race. "Marion made it at the World Championships," Blanc said, "this was the revenge. Two wins out of three parallel races, that's great. I always feel some pressure especially when racing against Karine [Ruby] since there's always competition between the two of us in France. I knew I had a chance to win if I could beat her and then it happened in the semi finals."

Heidi Renoth from Germany finished 3rd, beating Ruby in the consolation round. Blanc keeps the lead in the Parallel World Cup standings ahead of Italy's Margerita Parini (5th place today) and Sandra Farmand from Germany who finished 10th.

The World Cup riders now head to Berchtesgaden, Germany, where the next stage will be held on the upcoming weekend.

—Britta Semmler, MountainZone.com Correspondent