Bankes and Noerl win globes while Bankes and Grondin win finals
Mar 20, 2022·Snowboard Cross
SBX fans got to witness a spectacular last show at the final stage of the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup season here in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. Athletes did not hold back, but went full send into the last World Cup competition of 2021/22 under a bluebird sky filled with loads of sunshine.
Bankes tops off season with another win
The last big final of women this season consisted of World Champion Charlotte Bankes (GBR), French rider Manon Petit Lenoir, USA’s Faye Gulini and Canadian bronze medallist from Reiteralm one week before the finals Audrey McManiman.
Bankes was winning every heat of the day, maybe also because she was really free in her mind, as she knew that she had the overall globe already in her pocket.
But out of the gate and after the first few features of the start section, it was Faye Gulini in first, leading up to the first jump, where she seemed to have lost a bit of balance and struggled to hold her line and in the air Bankes almost did crash into her, but somehow managed to save the situation.
It was however McManiman, who also struggled over that first jump, lost balance and then crashed and therefore was out of the battle for a podium spot. Thankfully, the Canadian did not hurt herself during the crash.
Gulini was still in the lead, however Bankes kept her cool, generated some major speed over the roller section and going into the bank turn, she took the inside line to make a pass and for the next turn she was outside, however nicely closed the door on Gulini on her front side to defend the lead. Petit Lenoir was sitting in third with a little margin.
Bankes was getting faster and faster and could get even more ahead of Gulini, so that the American did not manage to keep up with the Brit and that way, Bankes topped her season off with yet another incredible win. Faye Gulini crossed the finish line and Manon Petit Lenoir third.
“It was a big battle with myself to get back into it and to find the energy, but then it was great riding today. I was a bit worried with the soft snow today, but I am really happy with how today went and I want to say a massive “thanks” to the team and to everybody who came out today to support,” an emotional Bankes said after the race.
Eliot Grondin wins tight French sandwich battle
The very last final FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup heat 2021/22 went down with Olympic silver medallist Eliot Grondin from Canada in a French sandwich consisting of Merlin Surget, Leo Le Ble Jaques and Loan Bozzolo.
Merlin Surget shot out like a rocket after the gate dropped, but very quickly after, Grondin managed to get head-to-head with the Frenchman, but already on his other side, Loan Bozzolo approached him really quickly, while Le Ble Jaques was a bit behind the trio.
Going into the bank turn, Grondin and Bozzolo were really close and up high in the bank, when suddenly their boards touched, which caused the French athlete to crash and take him out of the heat.
Surget was still up front, chased by the Canadian and Le Ble Jaques now sitting in third. But already at the roller section, Grondin got more speed and was coming closer to Surget’s tails, but it was not until after the double section, when the Canadian really sped things up went into the bank turn on his front side and immediately after overtook Surget on his backside going into the next bank turn. Surget tried to get head-to-head with the Canadian entering into the final bank turn, but at the final roller section, the French athlete did not have any chance to keep up with the Canadian rocket anymore. Grondin crossed the finish line first, Surget second and Le Ble Jaques third.
“It was a rough day with the soft snow and I knew that Merlin in front of me would be perfect to draft and then get more momentum for the bottom of the track and make a pass. It feels really good to win again. I had third and second places this season, but to finish the season off with a win is the best that I could have dreamed off,” a very happy Eliot Grondin said.
Charlotte Bankes wins first career crystal globe
Current World Champion Charlotte Bankes showed really high-class riding throughout the entire season. And with five victories and two more podium spots out of eight World Cup competitions, the 26-year-old was the most consistent rider of the season. Bankes already had the globe in her pocket after the penultimate stop of the season in Reiteralm (AUT), as she reached a 113-point margin to runner-up Michela Moioli with her win at the Austrian resort.
Hence, no wonder the British athlete is walking home with the overall crystal globe as best female snowboard cross athlete of the season. Huge congratulations for this milestone!
Martin Noerl wins overall title for the first time
Three gentlemen were supposed to battle it out for the globe according to the World Cup standings, however Alessandro Haemmerle was not able to participate in the World Cup finals, as he was at home with a Covid infection. So, Jakob Dusek (AUT) and Germany’s Martin Noerl who was entering the finals as the World Cup leader were left.
But as Dusek crashed already in his first heat of the day and did not advance into the next round, that’s when it was clear that Martin Noerl had won the crystal globe. Although he did not make it on the podium on Sunday, with Haemmerle not there and Dusek out, the margin he had was enough for him to clinch the title.
Final SBX Awards of the 2021/22 season:
The final award ceremony was going down under a bluebird sky and the sun shining down on the crystal globes, the final rankings for the SBX World Cup season 2021/22 were the following:
Women:
1 – Charlotte Bankes (GBR)
2 – Michela Moioli (ITA)
3 – Chloe Trespeuch (FRA)
Men:
1 – Martin Noerl (GER)
2 – Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT)
3 – Jakob Dusek (AUT)
The team captains also voted for the rookies of the year the day before the finals, and the awards went to the following athletes:
Female rookie of the year: Josie Baff (AUS)
Male rookie of the year: Alvaro Romero (ESP)
And in the end, the Nation’s Cup 2021/22 went to team France for an outstanding team performance throughout the season. And due to the fact that there was a huge crowd of French fans in the finish, the Marseilleise was sung so loud that you could for sure hear it even in France as well.
Well, that’s a wrap on the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup season 2021/22, which was all in all a really successful one with lots of excitement, some excellent riding and many beautiful emotions!
Now, it's time to recharge the batteries over spring and summer and get ready for the World Championship season 2022/23.
Stay healthy everyone, thanks for following us along this season and see you next year!
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