2007/2008 Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup Champions - Only Pesko defends title as 21 nations podium in Snowboard - The last four events in the Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup 2007/08 were held in Valmalenco (ITA) as part of the FIS Grand Finals 2008.
2007/2008 Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup Champions
Only Pesko defends title as 21 nations podium in Snowboard
The last four events in the Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup 2007/08 were held in Valmalenco (ITA) as part of the FIS Grand Finals 2008. Nicolien Sauerbreij (NED) and Benjamin Karl (AUT) claimed the large crystal globes as the overall World Cup champions. Both also won the small globes for the parallel World Cup although Anke Karstens (GER) and Matthew Morison (CAN) raced to victory in the last event of the season. For Sauerbreij and Karl, these were their first titles: for 22-year-old Karl, the crystal globes put the finishing touch to his break-through season with a total of five podium places including two wins. 28-year-old Sauerbreij was close in the 2001/2002 and 2002/03 seasons as she finished 2nd in the parallel rankings.
The ladies’ snowboardcross title went to Maelle Ricker of Canada over defending champion Lindsey Jacobellis (USA). Pierre Vaultier (FRA) who celebrated his first career win in the season's final last year, matured to claim the snowboard cross trophy this season, thanks to four podiums including three wins. Poland’s Mateusz Ligocki made history in realizing the first Snowboard World Cup win for his country in the season’s final SBX. In half-pipe, the Swiss duo of Manuela Laura Pesko and Iouri Podladtchikov confirmed their World Cup titles. Pesko is the only rider able to defend her title this year, and by taking her third consecutive title, she became only the third female rider after Karine Ruby (FRA) and Daniela Meuli (SUI) to perform that impressive feat. Stefan Gimpl secured his big air title in Moscow several weeks earlier.
In the 65 NOKIA Snowboard FIS World Cup competitions this season, 21 nations celebrated podium finishes, 15 of them taking the top spot at least once. With a total of 36 top three appearances including 14 wins, Austria was the most successful nation, followed by France (16 of which 8 wins), Canada (24), USA (22) and previously dominating nation, Switzerland (26 total podiums but only six top spots).
Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup 2007/2008 Champions:
Overall ladies: Nicolien Sauerbreij (NED)
Overall men: Benjamin Karl (AUT)
Parallel ladies: Nicolien Sauerbreij (NED)
Parallel men: Benjamin Karl (AUT)
Snowboardcross ladies: Maelle Ricker (CAN)
Snowboardcross men: Pierre Vaultier (FRA)
Half-pipe ladies: Manuela Laura Pesko (SUI)
Half-pipe men: Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI)
Big air men: Stefan Gimpl (AUT)
Thursday, March 20th 2008 @ 09:12 AM.
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