Snowboarders return to Europe for World Cup

A series of newly crowned world champions will line up in La Molina, Spain, from Tuesday (14 February) for the penultimate edition of the 2016-17 snowboard-cross and banked slalom World Cup.

Live results will be available at World Para Snowboard’s website.

Fresh from his double gold in both disciplines from the 2017 World Para Snowboard Championships in Big White, Canada, Finland’s Matti Suur-Hamari headlines the men’s SB-LL2 field.

A confident performance in Canada delivered the Fin his second and third career world titles, but in the banked slalom World Cup he is currently tied at the top with the USA’s Evan Strong.

Strong himself took away a silver in snowboard-cross from the Worlds.

Great Britain’s Owen Pick and Japan’s Gurimu Narita, both first time podium finishers from Big White 2017 in the banked slalom, will also be in contention.

In the women’s SB-LL2, Dutch snowboard-cross silver medallist Lisa Bunschoten will go head-to-head with Spain’s Astrid Fina Paredes. The Spaniard, who sits just outside the banked slalom World Cup top three in fourth place, has the chance to move up the rankings.

The USA’s Mark Mann is coming off his first career Worlds medal from Big White 2017. He could take the lead at the top of the rankings in the men’s banked slalom SB-LL1, and strengthen his No. 1 position in snowboard-cross, where he took Worlds bronze.

Austria’s Reinhold Schett will also compete as the silver and bronze medallist from the cross and banked slalom respectively.

France’s Cecile Hernandez-Cervellon is currently third in the women’s banked slalom SB-LL1 rankings, and picked up a medal in both that and snowboard-cross in Big White.

The USA’s Mike Minor is enjoying a great season in the men’s SB-UL, winning his first world title in snowboard-cross. He is also maintaining the top spot in both World Cups.

However France’s Maxime Montaggioni stormed to gold in the banked slalom on his World Championships debut, and enters La Molina in third place in the World Cup.

Italy’s Jacopo Luchini was another surprise package, securing bronze in snowboard-cross in Big White. He will be hoping to add points to his campaign, sitting third in the standings.

The USA’s Peggy Martin has already sealed two race wins in the women’s snowboard-cross SB-UL.

The La Molina World Cup runs until 18 February. Two snowboard-cross races will take place from 14-15 February, followed by a banked slalom double from 17-18 February.

Live results will be available throughout as snowboarders prepare for their last major challenge of the season – the PyeongChang 2018 Test Event and World Cup Finals from 10-13 March.