Samkova and Haemmerle win first SBX World Cup of the season

No way would Friday 13 be an unlucky day for Alessandro Haemmerle, who at his 60th World Cup start took the top of the podium in front of his very own home crowd. Also Eva Samkova (CZE) did not seem to be too superstitious and continued right where she left off last season – as number one.

Although in the morning of the SBX World Cup opener, weather conditions were not ideal with lots of snow, some fog and really poor visibility. But, the weather gods decided they wanted to see some serious snowboard cross action, especially since Montafon is known for its great love for SBX with fan crowds always filling up the podium in the finish to cheer on the world’s best athletes.

Jarryd Hughes (AUS), who had announced he wanted to defend his Montafon World Cup title from 2017, did not manage to make it into the big final, but finished in seventh place. Also the reigning World Champion Mick Dierdorff (USA) seemed to have trouble getting into racing mode today in Montafon. Continously big names of the SBX scene were dropping out one after another. One who was missing today’s start was Pierre Vaultier (FRA). The Frenchman and six time SBX crystal globe winner still is fighting to get back into shape after suffering from injuries last season.

Though it seemed that determination really drove Alessandro Haemmerle from the eight final through until the big final. In every heat, Haemmerle was super fast getting out of that start gate, manoeuvring almost in every heat into fist spot.

The big final then saw the Austrian, Cameron Bolton (AUS), Italy’s Omar Visintin and Lucas Eguibar from Spain getting into the start gate for the final heat of the day. Super tight racing then saw Haemmerle in great shape positioning himself into first after a technical start and advancing more and more in front and crossing that finish line first with Bolton coming in second and Visintin taking third, edging Eguibar off the podium.

The final heat on the women’s side had Eva Samkova, Michela Moioli (ITA), Belle Brockhoff (AUS) and Great Britain’s Charlotte Bankes fighting for the topspot in front, with really windy conditions at that very moment. Samkova managed to stay in front to continue right where she had left off last season as the SBX crystal globe winner, not one bit slower. "Ms. Moustache" Samkova said: "the win wasn't easy, because you had to push all the way through and the wind was coming in, so it was a really tight race, especially in the finish".

SBX winningest female athlete Lindsay Jacobellis (USA) managed to win the small final, which saw a battle between her, the French duo Nelly Moenne Loccoz and Chloe Trespeuch and Raffaella Brutto as fourth of the heat.

Of course, since it was the first race of the season, today’s winners are also current SBX World Cup leaders. Time to work through these season kick-off emotions and move on to the next stop of the tour, which will be in Cervinia, Italy, for Qualies on Dec 20 and Finals on Dec 21.

QUICK LINKS

Montafon results
Snowboard Cross World Cup standings
SBX press kit
Facebook photo gallery Montafon SBX 2019
Full FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup calendar