Crossers stacked

While most of the riders are taking a week off right now before the NOKIA Snowboard FIS World Cup heads on to Japan next week, there was still another race scheduled for the Snowboard Cross in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.

Since Madonna will be the venue for the 2001 FIS Snowboard World Championships, those riders who registered for today's race had the chance to check out the site before competing for the titles here next year. Originally next year's Snowboard Cross competition was planned to be held on the "5 laghi" slope, on which today's race was held, but organizers made an official decision yesterday and the championships will be raced on the steeper "FIS 3," which the Giant Slalom riders tried out here last year.

Racing was really exciting today at this, the season's sixth Snowboard Cross, although the conditions were tough, with strong winds in the morning and light snowfall in the afternoon.

"I don't think anybody can become as famous as he is..."— Alexander Maier, 4th, younger brother of ski racer Hermann Maier(AUT)

Zeke Steggall from Down Under met Italy's Simone Malusa, US rider Anton Pogue and Austrian Alexander Maier in the final heat. Crossing the finish line first, the Aussie got his second win this season (after Schönried three weeks ago).

"A lot of people complained about the course today which was pretty flat in the lower section, but I think it has just been something different. If we always have a steep course, it's always the same. So this time it was a little different and the guys that built the course did the best they could here. I think to become a World Cup champion you need to be able to do both."

That's what he proved by winning on both the steep course at Schönried and this flatter one. Italy's Simone Malusa took second place and was overwhelmed after making it to the podium for the first time in his career. Pogue took third place. And Maier finished fourth, his best result so far after a ninth place in Giant Slalom.

"It was only my third Snowboard Cross today so I'm really happy I got it," the younger brother of alpine skier "Herminator" Hermann Maier said, "if I get more confidence for this kind of racing I'm sure I can get to the top more often." Being asked if he intends to be as successful as his brother, he added, smiling: "I don't think anybody can become as famous as he is. I simply like to do my very best, that's it. I think with regard to the World Championships, today's result could be a good omen. However, I would not like to end up fourth next year and just miss a medal but there's still some time left to practice."

Steggall took the lead in the Snowboard Cross World Cup standings. "I'm so happy to be back at the top and also like to finish on this podium at the end of the season." Pontus Stahlkloo from Sweden, 10th at Madonna, dropped back to second in the overalls, ahead of Swiss rider Guillaume Nantermo, who finished 19th.

Sandra Farmand from Germany took the gold in the women's race, her first-ever in Snowboard Cross. "The course was pretty good," she said, "except for the long flat section, you always had to be thinking about how fast the board was. I came to that part only being in third position and could pass the others there. In that section it was more or less a question of luck but I'm glad I made it... I can't wait to get home now to get some rest before leaving for the next race."

	The winners

Marjorie Rey from France finished second, her best result so far. Austrian sisters Manuela and Carmen Ranigler took third and fourth place, respectively.

"I had been in the lead but then Carmen got over my board," Manuela said, disappointed, "and I lost all the speed..." France's Marie Laissus failed to make it to the final heat after a crash in the semi-finals, but she still keeps the lead in the standings ahead of her teammate Julie Pomagalski (5th today) and Ranigler.

The juniors will head on to the FIS Snowboard Junior World Championships taking place in Berchtesgaden, Germany, next weekend. The next World Cup stage is scheduled for Makomanai/Sapporo, Japan, from February 18 through 20.

—Britta Semmler, MountainZone.com Correspondent