Para Snowboard World Cup Finals in Mt. Sima (CAN): confirmed domination of the American Team

After the Snowboard Cross, it was time for the Para Snowboard World Cup to conclude the 2023-24 Banked Slalom season. The second episode of these finals took place at Mount Sima, Yukon (CAN), where the stunning "Lost in Paradise" Banked Slalom track awaited the world's top snowboarders.

Represented in every competing category, the United States once again performed exceptionally well. The American team secured no less than 12 podiums over these past two days, including 7 victories! Half of these 12 podiums were claimed by American female athletes. In the Women Upper Limb category, Peggy Martin (USA) and Darian Haynes (USA) battled for victory. While the more experienced of the two, Peggy Martin, who turns 50 this year (!), was formidable during the first Banked Slalom, it was the young American guard, led by Darian Haynes (24 years old), who emerged victorious at the end of the season's final race. On the other hand, despite being unwell during the first Banked Slalom, Brenna Huckaby Clegg (USA) once again swept both races, each time ahead of Cécile Hernandez (FRA), who finished second both times, exactly 82 hundredths of a second behind, on both races. The podium in the Women Lower Limb category was completed by Sandrine Hamel (CAN) at the end of the first Banked Slalom, and by Nina Sparks (GBR) the following day.

For the men, it was Mike Minor, Noah Elliott, and Zach Miller who proudly represented the American flag. Mike Minor (USA) recorded the best time in the first Banked Slalom of the Men Upper Limb category and finished ahead of Maxime Montaggioni (FRA) in second place, and Jacopo Luchini (ITA) in third. The next day, the Italian leader of the category regained the joy of victory by winning with half a second ahead. Second and third places were decided by just 3 hundredths of a second in favor of Mike Minor (USA), who came in second ahead of Maxime Montaggioni (FRA). In the Men Lower Limb 1 category, Noah Elliott (USA) also swept both Banked Slalom races, offering a true master class on the second day. The podium was consistently completed by Daichi Oguri (JPN), who finished second twice, and Tyler Turner (CAN), who finished third twice. The podium in the Men Lower Limb 2 category remained the same at the end of both Banked Slalom races, with the category leader, Emanuel Perathoner (ITA), emerging as the grand winner. The Italian resisted the pressure imposed by his greatest rival, the young Ben Tudhope (AUS), who finished second twice and was only 29 hundredths of a second behind at the end of the last race. Third place twice, Zach Miller (USA) also contributed to the American sweep at Mt. Sima.

A sweep that logically extended to the Banked Slalom globes and overall standings of the 2023-24 season. The United States thus concludes the season with a total of 4 small globes (1x Snowboard Cross and 3x Banked Slalom) and 2 big globes (1x Women Lower Limb and 1x Men Lower Limb 1). Another dominant nation this season, Italy, returns to Europe with exactly the same number of crystal globes in their luggage, all won by Jacopo Luchini and Emanuel Perathoner - 4 small globes (2x Snowboard Cross and 2x Banked Slalom) and 2 big globes (1x Men Upper Limb and 1x Men Lower Limb 2). In the nations' standings, it is the American team that also takes home the trophies in both men's and women's categories. Italy finishes second in the men's national standings with a 542-point gap behind the United States and a 100-point lead over Japan, which finishes third. The next season promises to be just as exciting!

All standings for the 2023-24 season are available on the following page: FIS Points & Rankings