麻豆社国产snowboarder Ma毛lle Ricker maintained top spot on the boardercross World Cup circuit by winning bronze in Veysonnaz, Switzerland on Friday (Jan. 15).
And for the third time this season, fellow Canadian Dominique Maltais joined Ricker on the podium, this time earning the silver medal. The result boosts Maltais to second place overall behind Ricker.
For Ricker, who started the season with two wins, the podium finish was a quick return to form after dropping to seventh place at Bad Gastein, Austria on Jan. 10. The 31-year-old was relieved to earn enough points to remain the top boarder to beat with the Olympics fast approaching, she said in a release.
"The course was very fast and suited to good gliders," she said. "After finishing fourth place a number of times last year, I was just happy not to be fourth. I'm definitely looking forward to returning to Canada and racing at Stoneham."
Quebec's Maltais overtook Ricker in the final but couldn't catch up to winner and defending world champion Helene Olafsen of Norway, who is third overall on the World Cup circuit.
"I rode with a lot of confidence today and finished way ahead in the quarter and semi-finals," said Maltais. "I had a bad start and made a few mistakes in the final that cost me a lot. But then I went straight in the finish and was very fast. I passed Ma毛lle, got the silver and just ran out of space to overtake Olafsen."
On the men's side, Squamish's Rob Fagan dropped from second to third place overall on the boardercross World Cup circuit after finishing 18th, his worst result of the season. However, the 33-year-old has already met the qualification criteria for the 2010 Canadian Olympic Snowboard Team nomination procedures.
Quebec's Fran莽ois Boivin became the second Canadian men's boarder to meet the qualifications by placing fourth in Switzlerland.
France's Pierre Vaultier continued to dominate the event with his third win of the season. Vaultier, who returned to the sport after a year's absence, remains first overall with 3,800 points with only three snowboardcross events left on the schedule. The United States' Nick Holland is second with 1,740 points, Fagan third with 1,620 points, so Vaultier has virtually clinched the Crystal Globe.
The Olympic hopes of Squamish's Tom Velisek ride on one final World Cup competition in Stoneham, Que. Velisek, who turned 29 on race day, finished 20th after getting knocked out in the first round.
"Of course I was expecting more out of this race (being my birthday and all)," said Velisek in an email. "But I am still in contention for making the Olympic team."
It all comes down to the last competition, which takes place this weekend (Jan. 23 and 24).
