Samkova and Holland best in time trials Solitude

P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }

Olympic champion Eva Samkova (CZE) and multiple X Games title winner Nate Holland have posted the best times in Thursday's qualifiers for this season's second snowboard cross World Cup event staged at Solitude Mountain Resort (USA), home of the 2019 FIS Snowboard snowboard cross world championships races.

Samkova who had already been dominating the time trials at this season's World Cup opener in Montafon (AUT) last December nailed a stunning time of 1:16.64 on the 1,290 metres long course man-built by White Industries Ltd being the only one clocking in under 1:17 min.

Only Alexandra Jekova (BUL) came close to the best time with a 1:17.36 needed to make it through the seven berms and over twelve jumps and additional twelve multi features.

The rest of the favourites – including four-time world champion Lindsey Jacobellis (USA), defending World Cup title champion Michela Moioli (ITA) and Nelly Moenne Loccoz (FRA) – posted times around 1:18.35 being forced to find a way to deal with the speed of the Czech racer in tomorrow's knock out rounds which will feature heats of six.

In the men's event, Nate the Great is back stronger than earlier this season where he saw himself finishing in the mid field of the qualifiers.

But on the track in Utah, he underlined why he is always ready for the podium in home soil events.

The fourth ranked rider of the last world championships expressed his claim for a podium result in a time of 1:09.85 with Olympic champion Pierre Vaultier (FRA) and US teammate Mick Dierdorff breathing down his neck in a respective 1:09.93 and 1:09.95.

Finals are slated to take place on Saturday, January 21, at 8 PM CET with the knock out rounds being broadcasted live in several countries.

For more detailed information on the TV schedule click here.