Two top-10 finishes for Michelle Gorgone in Alpes d'Huez

Two top-10 finishes for Michelle Gorgone in Alpes d’Huez{mosimage}USSA — Just one day after finishing 10th in a World Cup parallel giant slalom at Alpes d’Huez, France, Michelle Gorgone improved by five spots — and just missed a podium finish — in the second Alpes d’Huez race.

It was Gorgone’s third World Cup top-10 finish on the season, including a third place result at the December Whistler World Cup.

French rider Julie Pamagalski stepped up from her fifth place result the day before to top current parallel leader Daniela Mueli of Switzlerland. Isabella Blanc, also of France, finished third.

France’s Mathieu Bozzetto, the reigning World Cup parallel champ, topped the men’s field. Current parallel leader Siegfried Grabner of Austria finished second ahead of Canadian Jasey Jay Anderson. The top male U.S. rider was Chris Klug in 22nd.

In Saturday’s race, which took the place of a race previously scheduled for Arosa, Switzerland, Gorgone was 10th behind winner Mueli, who extended her overall parallel lead by defeating Austrian Doresia Krings in the women’s final. Swiss Ursula Bruhin finished third.

On the men’s side, it was a Swiss podium sweep with Urs Eiselin, Philipp Schoch and Heinz Inniger going 1-2-3. The top American male was Ryan McDonald in 19th.

Snowboard World Cup
Alpes d’Huez, France
January 11, 2004
Women’s Parallel Giant Slalom
1. Julie Pamagalski, France
2. Daniela Mueli, Switzerland
3. Isabella Blanc, France
4. Marion Posch, Italy
5. Michelle Gorgone, Sudbury, Mass.
Other Americans:
12. Rosey Fletcher, Girdwood, Alaska
37. Erica Mueller, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
46. Stacia Hookom, Edwards, Colo.

Men’s Parallel Giant Slalom
1. Mathieu Bozzetto, France
2. Siegfried Grabner, Austria
3. Jasey Jay Anderson, Canada
4. Dieter Krassnig, Austria
5. Heinz Inniger, Switzerland
Americans:
22. Chris Klug, Aspen, Colo.
25. Eric Warren, Bennington, Vt.
30. Ryan McDonald, Entiat, Wash.
36. Adam Smith, Tangent, Ore.

Alpes d’Huez, France
January 10, 2004
Women’s Parallel Giant Slalom
1. Daniela Mueli, Switzerland
2. Doresia Krings, Austria
3. Ursula Bruhin, Switzerland
4. Svetlana Boldikova, Russia
5. Julie Pamagalski, France
Americans:
10. Michelle Gorgone, Sudbury, Mass.
25. Stacia Hookom, Edwards, Colo.
30. Rosey Fletcher, Girdwood, Alaska
48. Erica Mueller, Steamboat Springs, Colo.

Men’s Parallel Giant Slalom
1. Urs Eiselin, Switzerland
2. Philipp Schoch, Switzerland
3. Heinz Inniger, Switzerland
4. Dieter Krassnig, Austria
5. Simon Schoch, Switzerland
Americans:
19. Ryan McDonald, Entait, Wash.
23. Chris Klug, Aspen, Colo.
26. Eric Warren, Bennington, Vt.
30. Adam Smith, Tangent, Ore.