Grondin and Bankes back on top in Beidahu

Eliot Grondin (CAN) and Charlotte Bankes (GBR) took their first FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup victories of the season on Saturday as the tour resumed in Beidahu, China.

Both riders had finished fourth in the season opener in Cervinia in December, but turned that disappointment into joy in Beidahu with wins in exciting finals on a crisp, cold afternoon.

But women’s World Cup leader Lea Casta (FRA) underlined her potential with her second podium of the season in another strong performance.

Grondin and Haemmerle return to form

Reigning World Cup champion Grondin was second in qualification to Lukas Pachner (AUT), but the Canadian made no mistakes when it came to Saturday’s racing. He won every round, despite not always being fastest out of the blocks, and crossed the line in the big final clearly ahead of Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) and Merlin Surget (FRA).

“I did a couple of training runs with Merlin and Loan [Bozzolo] so I kind of knew a little bit what they were going to do. Turn 2 I knew Merlin was going to try to go a bit lower and pass there, so I defended this section quite good and then I was just trying to fly away and do no mistakes,” Grondin said.

“It was really really tricky today, we were going pretty far on the jumps, the light wasn’t super-great, so it was hard to tell where you were," he added.

In contrast, reigning Olympic champion Haemmerle had qualified only in 29th place on his comeback from the back injury which kept him away from Cervinia. However, his experience showed when it came to side-by-side racing.

Haemmerle edged out Pachner in their semifinal to claim a spot in the big final, where he was initially off the back. But the Austrian kept pressing and after passing Loan Bozzolo (FRA) in the middle of the race took the photofinish for second ahead of Surget. It was the first podium this season for both riders.

Lorenzo Sommariva (ITA) won the men’s small final, coming through in the closing stages to overtake Nathan Pare (USA) who had the best start. Julian Lueftner (AUT) also found a bit more speed in the finish and finished sixth overall, with Pachner coming in behind Pare for eighth.

Grondin’s win puts him at the top of the overall leaderboard after Jakob Dusek (AUT), who won in Cervinia, was knocked out in the quarterfinals by Pachner and Surget. Sommariva is now third, follow by Cameron Bolton (AUS), who was fourth in his quarterfinal.

Bankes wins, Casta impresses again

Charlotte Bankes had a perfect competition. She was fastest in qualification ahead of Sina Siegenthaler (SUI) and Noemie Widmer (SUI), and won all three races on Saturday – beating Michela Moioli (ITA) in each one.

Bankes claimed a narrow victory in the big final after a slow start, charging down the final straight for the win.

Casta had the quickest start, going clear early on while Moioli, Bankes and Pia Zerkhold (AUT) fought for positioning. After Zerkhold and Bankes just touched edges, Bankes stayed cool and found the speed she needed to come past Casta and Moioli in the closing stages.

Moioli took second place with a good finish as Casta tired. However, a second podium for Casta in as many competitions means she retains the overall World Cup lead ahead of Sunday’s round of racing.

“It was really quite tight racing,” said Bankes after her victory.

She said she expected more of the same in Sunday’s competition.

“I think it’s going to be some more tight racing and it’s just finding my way through. I know I’ve got the speed at the bottom and I’ll try and capitalize on that,” Bankes said.

The women’s small final was a close race between four young athletes, won by Australia’s Josie Baff (22 years old) ahead of 19-year-old Brianna Schnorrbusch (USA) who matched her best-ever World Cup finish in sixth overall. Mia Clift (AUS) was seventh overall and 17-year-old Karolina Hrusova (CZE) eighth in only her third World Cup competition.

Baff, who was second in Cervinia, retains third place in the overall standings behind Casta and Bankes. Moioli has moved up to fourth.

More to come on Sunday

Day two in Beidahu starts at 11:00 local time (04:00 CET) with a single qualification run for all riders. The finals then take place, with the men’s 1/8 finals beginning at 13:30 local time (06:30 CET), followed by the women's quarterfinals.

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Beidahu Full Results
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2024-25 Women's Cup Standings
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