Adamczykova dances her way to win in St. Moritz

The FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup tour made its return after a long break with a stop in St. Moritz. The Swiss mountains provided a picturesque setting for an exciting day of racing.

Eva Adamczykova (CZE) turned the course in St. Moritz into her ballroom as she danced past the competition on the way to victory. It was her first race of the season after missing the first two races as she was competing in a celebrity dance contest on Czech TV. She reached the final of the competition.

The win in her first race of the season was even a surprise for the light-footed Adamczykova.

“I really didn’t expect this. I was here to do my best riding I possibly could at this point. But really, I didn’t have much training, I had like ten days,” Adamczykova said. “I was getting better every day. Today my starts were better. But it was so hard, girls are riding so close and so great. I have to really push my hardest and best to be there and even then, it was super close. I am really happy to be back.”

Memorizing intricate dance routines and focusing on the footwork may have helped the Czech rider. She displayed a poise throughout the day, never getting rattled when falling a bit behind in the pack.

“I was more waiting and more mature in the heats than I normally am so maybe that was a reason I was fast today,” Adamczykova said.

It is the 32nd World Cup podium for the Olympic champion. She already committed to put her ballroom shoes on the shelf and focus on snowboarding for the rest of the season saying she will race in the remaining scheduled events.

The other riders may want to work in some salsa lessons into their training to keep up with the rejuvenated Adamczykova.

The other riders may want to work in some salsa lessons into their training to keep up with the rejuvenated Adamczykova.

The Czech evergreen topped the podium but there was plenty of talent pushing her in St. Moritz. Sophie Hediger (SUI) worked her way to second on home snow.

“It’s amazing, it could not be better. This morning, I couldn’t expect that this would happen. Then I started my training, and I was feeling really good. From heat to heat, I tried my best and it worked out,” Hediger said.

It is the first World Cup podium for Hediger. The home crowd and layout of the course may have boosted her on the day.

“You can do a lot in the down part of the course, which is my strength and I think that’s why I can be fast here,” Hediger said.

Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) rounded out the podium. She retains the yellow bib as the overall leader with her second podium of the season.

“I kept the yellow bib which is important to me,” Trespeuch said. “It is proof that I am doing well and now the secret is to keep it until March.”

The windy conditions brought some surprises on the day. Belle Brockhoff (AUS) could not make her third successive podium after losing in the quarterfinals. Sina Siegenthaler (SUI) could not repeat her victory from Cervinia and settled for sixth. Charlotte Bankes’ (GBR) struggles continued as she was knocked out in the quarterfinals.

Can anyone stop Eliot Grondin?

The men’s side featured plenty of close races and a dramatic big final where Eliot Grondin (CAN) came out on top. It is the second win and third podium in three races for Grondin.

“To be in the big final every race this year, it’s unbelievable. I have been having good training all week but it has been a bit more challenging the last few weekends so to come here and finish with a win is so nice,” Grondin said. “It is the first time I have won more than one race in a year which is really nice.”

It is already a career year for Grondin who had nine career World Cup podiums before this season. The results are nice but there is more to racing for Grondin.

“To keep pushing hard and to have fun. The main thing is to have fun,” Grondin said. “The result is great but to do it while having fun is something else.”

Grondin’s day was not always smooth sailing. The Canadian needed to mount a comeback in the quarterfinals to advance.

“I made a big mistake in the start and almost missed the second feature, so I knew I had to chase and make my pass to be clear at the bottom and it worked. And then I was just trying to be top two at the bottom and ended up in the lead,” Grondin said.

Grondin topped the podium holding off local favorite Kalle Koblet (SUI). The second-place finish for Koblet gives him five career podiums and his first in his home nation.

“It is so nice to have a good result with the home crowd. My friends were here. My family was here. It’s the best,” Koblet said.

Omar Visintin (ITA) pulled out third place in a tight finish. However, with a fast board he wanted a bit more.

“It means a lot. I knew I was strong this year,” Visintin said. “I am not really happy today though because I knew I could do a bit more. I made a big mistake in the final that cost me a lot of speed. Anyways, a podium is always good.”

It is the 20th career World Cup podium for Visintin. It is the first of the season for the Italian.

Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) had a rough day after a poor qualifying time on Thursday. He lost in the first round of the knckouts and it was the first time he missed the podium this season.

NEXT UP:

The FIS Snowboard World Cup tour continues on February 3-4 with a pair of races in Georgia. The riders will take on the mountains in Gudauri for two races in two days.

QUICK LINKS:

St. Moritz data page

St. Moritz Men Results and Women Results
Course map
Photos: Snowboard Cross St. Moritz
Full 2023/204 FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Standings
Full 2023/24 FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Calendar