Swiss rider takes second straight parallel race; Smith tops for U.S.

Swiss rider takes second straight parallel race; Smith tops for U.S.{mosimage}Bitter winds kept the fog from settling on the parallel giant slalom December 4 as Austria’s Stefan Kaltschuetz topped the men’s field and Switzerland’s Daniela Mueli took her second consecutive World Cup victory.

Gilles Jaquet of Switzerland and Austria’s Dieter Krassnig rounded out the men’s podium with Sara Fischer of Sweden and Doresia Krings of Austria finishing 2-3 for the women. The Austrians accounted for five of the men’s top-10.

The top American rider was Landgraaf World Cup winner Adam Smith in ninth, while teammate Stacia Hookom finished 10th in the women’s race. Lisa Kosglow, Rosey Fletcher and Chris Klug also cracked the top 20, finishing 17th, 18th and 20th, respectively.

Wearing bib No. 1, an honor he’d earned after winning October’s historic indoor World Cup in the Netherlands, Smith led after the first qualifying round. But a 0.02-second loss to Sweden’s Daniel Biveson bumped him to the No. 2 spot in the finals. He then bowed out in a first round loss to Michael Dabringer of Austria. With 290 points on the day, Smith sits seventh in the overall parallel standings.

“Smith rode great in the qualifiers,” said alpine head coach Nick Smith. “He rode smart and solid and took advantage of the top bib on a day when the course conditions would certainly play a role. Klug also rode really well in the qualifier, but then had some trouble with the elimination round and ended up missing the finals by an eyelash.”

Hookom’s aggressive style shown through as winds continued to punish the course into the late morning, but after qualifying sixth for the finals, she suffered a first round loss to Austria’s Hiedi Krings to finish 10th. After five races, Hookom is 12th in the women’s overall parallel standings.

“It was a frustrating day,” said Smith, “but there are positives to be taken away and I think everyone is departing Sweden hungry for better days. They know they can win and win consistently.”

FIS SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP
Tandadalen, SWE, December 4

Men’s Parallel Giant Slalom
1. Stefan Kaltschuetz, Austria
2. Gilles Jaquet, Switzerland
3. Dieter Krassnig, Austria
Americans:
9. Adam Smith, Tangent, Ore.
20. Chris Klug, Aspen, Colo.
36. Eric Warren, Bennington, Vt.

Women’s Parallel Giant Slalom
1. Daniela Mueli, Switzerland
2. Sara Fischer, Sweden
3. Doresia Krings, Austria
Americans:
10. Stacia Hookom, Edwards, Colo.
17. Lisa Kosglow, Boulder, Colo.
18. Rosey Fletcher, Girdwood, Alaska
26. Michelle Gorgone, Sudbury, Mass.