Dujmovits and Galmarini top second Bansko PGS

Julia Dujmovits (AUT) and Nevin Galmarini (SUI) have won the second parallel giant slalom race of the World Cup stop in Bansko, Bulgaria and therefore the final form test prior to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

Just like the last couple of days, Mother Nature was once again in favour of snowboarding offering perfect conditions with a blue bird sky and a snow layer as hard as compact like riders love it to set those fine sharpe turns.

And with the enthusiastic spectators in the stances also turning the final knock out rounds into a madhouse the atmosphere was how it should be at the ultimate race prior to the season's pinnacle event, too.

In the women's competiton, Austria's Julia Dujmovits finally earned her season's first beating Ramona Hofmeister (GER) in the big final therefore achieving one of her season's main goals:

“I wanted to become ready for the Olympics and be well prepared, and I guess I'm where I wanted to be,” she said.

“It's unbelievable to walk away with a win from here. I really love this place, it's always such a great atmosphere and vibe here.”

However, the 2014 PSL Olympic Champion also benefitted from a mistake of her rival in the women's final when Hofmeister tried to keep the pressure high on the blue course which seemed to be a little bit harder to handle in the last section.

But despite being thrown the German racer, who currently enjoys a streak of four podium results in six races in 2018, thought that it was still “an amazing race.”

Especially as the 21-year-old from Bischofswiesen had managed to become the first rider this season to beat this winter's dominating athlete Ester Ledecka (CZE) in a parallel giant slalom.

Before, the undisputed World Cup leader had celebrated five wins in five starts.

“My qualifiers weren't ideal that's why I was facing Ester in the quarter finals already. But I was able to show that she is not unbeatable. That is for sure the icing on the cake.”

However, Ledecka is still comfortably leading the women's World Cup rankings.

Hofmeister's teammate Selina Joerg (GER) rounded out the women's podium having the whip hand over Gloria Kotnik (SLO) in the battle for third.

Over in the men's event, Galmarini extended his World Cup lead with his second win this winter dominating the final heat against Friday's third ranked Edwin Coratti (ITA).

The Swiss racer had impressed from the first qualifier session on claiming that top spot in the knock out heats and keeping the momentum through the course of the finals.

“It was unbelievable. I felt so confident today. I won the qualifiers, and then I just went on and on,” he said.

“If I would be asked to describe a perfect snowboard day, then today was like it should look like. I'm super happy and so pleased with my season so far. It's fantastic.”

Andreas Prommegger (AUT) finished in third position beating local favourite Radoslav Yankov (BUL) in the small finals.

The Alpine Snowboard World Cup tour will now take a break for the Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea before returning returning to Turkey on 3rd of March where a parallel giant slalom race will be staged in Kayseri.

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