Ulbing and Prommegger celebrate Austrian double victory in PSL

Austria's very own Daniela Ulbing and Andreas Prommegger have done their home country proud winning the parallel slalom event of the Sierra Nevada 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships today.

Ulbing won the Gold ahead of defending champion Ester Ledecka (CZE) and Alena Zavarzina (RUS) while Benjamin Karl (AUT) and Andrey Sobolev (RUS) rounded out the men's podium as respective second and third.

After yesterday's parallel giant slalom race had to be cancelled and re-scheduled to tomorrow due to a heavy snowstorm with wind speeds over 100 km/h, this afternoon's PSL took place under a blue bird sky again and at warm temperatures which had been dominating the first week of the 12th FIS Snowboard World Championships until the weather had changed rapidly last Monday.

In the women's event, this season's shooting star Ulbing put all things together to compete in the race of her life today which was actually the first ever for her at world championships.

Coming out as fastest qualifier and therefore having the advantage of choosing the side of the parallel flagged course, the 19-year-old from Carinthia dominated her rivals in the knock-out rounds.

After beating Carolin Langenhorst (GER) and Olympic champion Patrizia Kummer (SUI) she also knocked out Alena Zavarzina (RUS) before dethroning defending champion Ester Ledecka (CZE).

“I never ever would have thought of walking home with the title, but the more I'm happy now. Of course it was an advantage being able to always chose the same course, but I don't think I have realised it yet what just happened,” stated Ulbing, who has just two World Cup seasons under her belt.

Her rival in the finals has already had some more starts and success but added just another chapter to the history books.

Actually, Ledecka became the first athlete ever to compete at FIS Ski World Championships (St. Moritz) as well as FIS Snowboard World Championships in the same year, a fact she commented with a beaming smile: “It's great, isn't it? It was a good race, I really enjoyed every run. I'm happy about the way I was competing. It was a great day.”

The women's podium was rounded out by Alena Zavarzina who crossed the finish line ahead of Germany's Cheyenne Loch in the small final.

While the women's event was clinched by a World Championships novice, the men's event finally saw Andreas Prommegger triumphing.

Finally, as it took the father of two 18 (!) years and 17 world championships starts since 1999 to finally walk home with a medal.

“I can't put it into words. I knew I could earn a medal as I currently am in a very good shape. I knew it had to happen as I have been fighting so many times for a podium at major events and never have been rewarded for it,” stated Prommegger while waiting for the official award ceremony.

Three times, he had come close at worlds as fourth, now, he finally got redemption for all the unlucky losses in the past years beating room mate and long-time friend Benjamin Karl, who has medalled in every major event he has been competing in since 2009, in the final heat of the day to crown himself world champion.

“I tried to not put myself under pressure, telling myself that if I have to retire without a medal at Olympics or worlds, I would still be proud of what I have achieved in the past years. But now, I will go home as world champion. It's unreal.”

Especially as he took the title against Karl who had defeated him several times on the big stages. But not this time as Prommegger kept the momentum from back-to-back World Cup wins:

“We push each other every year, in every race and training, which is a dream. And finally having the margin on my side, it's unbelievable.”

Karl, however, was also surprised how the story did unfold today.

Not having had the best PSL results in the past World Cup events, the four-time world champion has been working on his set-up over the course of the season a lot, just to change everything in Sierra Nevada again:

“If you would have asked me prior to the race, I would have said: 'Oh, I have no chance today'. I just have changed my whole set-up prior to the race, board, plate. I never would have thought of this in the PSL race.”

But if the father of one is known for one thing than for his mental strength to be right there when he has to be, especially when it's time to battle for Gold, Silver and Bronze:

“I have now medalled at every major event I have been competing in. That's amazing, and I guess this is something not many athletes have achieved so far.”

In the battle for third, Sobolev delivered one of the strongest comebacks ever been witnessed on a parallel slalom course to heading Nevin Galmarini off right before the finish line after almost going down at the beginning of the steep part of the course.

The Sierra Nevada 2017 Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships continue tomorrow with the PGS event as qualifiers are set to take place at 9 AM CET while the finals will kick off at 1 PM CET. Click here for an update on the TV times.