Ski Cross: Kraus and David grab wins in Norway

Ski cross World Cup leaders Tomas Kraus of the Czech Republic and Ophelie David of France notched World Cup wins today in Myrkdalen-Voss, Norway. Kraus now has two World Cup victories on the season while David has three.

Austrians Thomas Zangerl and Andreas Matt also climbed on the men’s podium in second and third, respectively.

X Games champ, Canadian Stanley Hayer landed fifth, while Casey Puckett led the U.S. in eighth.  

“Casey was skiing well, but he got ahead of himself, got out front in the quarter final, came in ahead into a kicker and he just got his feet out in front of him. It threw him and he crashed and ended up getting passed,” U.S. ski cross head coach Tyler Shepherd said. “Unfortunately he didn’t move on past that and it was tough to see him have such a good start in that heat.”

Poor conditions played a role in today’s results according to Shepherd. “It was a tough day,” Shepherd said. “There was a lot of fog so it was in and out on the course, which made for tough conditions. The course also got really rutted up and not being able to see the ruts made it more difficult than the course really is.”

Kraus now has a 123-point lead in the standings ahead of Matt in second place. Puckett stands 164 back in fourth place. 

Austrians Katharina Gutensohn and Karin Huttary joined David on the podium in second and third, respectively. No American women competed today.

Today’s race was a microcosm of the women’s season. After six events, David (1st), Gutensohn (2nd) and Huttary (3rd) currently own the top three spots in the World Cup standings.

For complete results click here.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
Voss, Norway – Feb. 19, 2009
Ski Cross

Men
1. Tomas Kraus, Czech Republic
2. Thomas Zangerl, Austria
3. Andreas Matt, Austria
4. Hiroomi Takizawa, Japan
5. Stanley Hayer, Canada
–
8. Casey Puckett, Aspen, CO

Women
1. Ophelie David, France
2. Katharina Gutensohn, Austria
3. Karin Huttary, Austria
4. Ashleigh McIvor, Canada
5. Kelsey Serwa, Canada

Ski cross World Cup leaders Tomas Kraus of the Czech Republic and Ophelie David of France notched World Cup wins today in Myrkdalen-Voss, Norway. Kraus now has two World Cup victories on the season while David has three.

Austrians Thomas Zangerl and Andreas Matt also climbed on the men’s podium in second and third, respectively.

X Games champ, Canadian Stanley Hayer landed fifth, while Casey Puckett led the U.S. in eighth.  

“Casey was skiing well, but he got ahead of himself, got out front in the quarter final, came in ahead into a kicker and he just got his feet out in front of him. It threw him and he crashed and ended up getting passed,” U.S. ski cross head coach Tyler Shepherd said. “Unfortunately he didn’t move on past that and it was tough to see him have such a good start in that heat.”

Poor conditions played a role in today’s results according to Shepherd. “It was a tough day,” Shepherd said. “There was a lot of fog so it was in and out on the course, which made for tough conditions. The course also got really rutted up and not being able to see the ruts made it more difficult than the course really is.”

Kraus now has a 123-point lead in the standings ahead of Matt in second place. Puckett stands 164 back in fourth place. 

Austrians Katharina Gutensohn and Karin Huttary joined David on the podium in second and third, respectively. No American women competed today.

Today’s race was a microcosm of the women’s season. After six events, David (1st), Gutensohn (2nd) and Huttary (3rd) currently own the top three spots in the World Cup standings.

For complete results click here.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
Voss, Norway – Feb. 19, 2009
Ski Cross

Men
1. Tomas Kraus, Czech Republic
2. Thomas Zangerl, Austria
3. Andreas Matt, Austria
4. Hiroomi Takizawa, Japan
5. Stanley Hayer, Canada
–
8. Casey Puckett, Aspen, CO

Women
1. Ophelie David, France
2. Katharina Gutensohn, Austria
3. Karin Huttary, Austria
4. Ashleigh McIvor, Canada
5. Kelsey Serwa, Canada