Gudauri set to host electric Snowboard Cross World Cup as Crystal Globe race hots up

The sixth and seventh FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup races of the season take place this weekend in Gudauri, Georgia.

The weekend is a chance for overall leaders Eliot Grondin (CAN) and Charlotte Bankes (GBR) to extend their advantage, but also for other riders to seize an opportunity to close the gap as all is still to play for in the race for the Crystal Globes.

In particular second-placed riders Leon Ulbricht (GER) and Lea Casta (FRA) have shown consistency and speed all season, and are in a strong position to capitalise on any mistakes by Grondin and Bankes. Ulbricht did just that in Erzurum last weekend, when he took the win ahead of Grondin to climb into second.

Racing begins on Friday 7 March with qualification at 11:00 local time (08:00 CET). Finals for men and women start at 14:30 local time (11:30 CET) on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March.

Baumgartner building momentum

One of the riders who has been steadily improving their position in the rankings this season is USA veteran Nick Baumgartner, who took third place in Erzurum for his first podium since the 2021/22 season.

The 43-year-old says he feels faster than he has for a long time, adding: “Getting back on the podium felt incredible and is a true testament to all the hard work I’ve put in. There might (maybe) be a few riders out there working as hard as I am, but I promise no one is outworking me. At my age it’s this or get left behind.”

Baumgartner joked on social media that he was older than the combined age of Ulbricht (20 years old) and Grondin (23), who beat him in Erzurum, but he has no intention of stopping.

“Competition has been at the core of my life since I first started sports in kindergarten. It keeps me setting goals and pushing the limits of what’s possible, not just for myself, but for what others think is possible,” Baumgartner says.

“I’ve had a lot of support throughout my career, but the doubters have fueled me just as much. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized they’ve played a huge role in my success. Tell me I can’t do something, and I’ll outwork everyone and do whatever it takes to prove that I can.”

He says the support he has received from the entire SBX community “is so freaking cool” and also drives him.

Baumgartner says his experience both of racing and handling mental pressure is paying off, but he also wants to push his teammates – like Nathan Pare (USA) or Brianna Schnorrbusch (USA) – on.

“When I come back even faster than the year before, it pushes the younger riders, because let’s be real, the last thing they want is to get beat by someone their parents’ age,” he points out.

Baumgartner is excited about racing in Gudauri.

“I plan to carry the momentum I’ve been building throughout the first half of the season and bring my best to the track in Gudauri. The course in Turkey didn’t really play to my strengths. I had to rely on my race craft to fight my way through the heats. But I believe this track in Gudauri suits me much better. Combine that with the confidence I’ve gained this season, and you can expect me to be a force on the racecourse,” he promises.

But once again Baumgartner will face the consistency of Grondin, who has missed only one big final this season, Ulbricht, Aidan Chollet (FRA), world champion Jakob Dusek (AUT) and Cameron Bolton (AUS). The top five in the standings have all achieved at least one podium finish so far, and been contenders elsewhere.

Last season Grondin was first and Bolton second on both days in Gudauri, joined on the podium by Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) and Omar Visintin (ITA). Haemmerle will not start this time around, due to ill-health. Kalle Koblet (SUI) is also ruled out after an ankle injury sustained in a crash in the Mixed Team event in Erzurum.

Fun pushes Zerkhold to success

While Bankes, with four wins from five races, heads the overall women’s standings, only 38 points split the riders ranked fifth to 10th on the leaderboard. In ninth place currently is Austrian Pia Zerkhold, having one of her best seasons to date.

At the second World Cup stop in Beidahu, China, Zerkhold was fourth – her first big final since the 2022/23 season. She narrowly missed the semifinals in Cortina d’Ampezzo, finishing ninth, and was seventh in the individual competition in Erzurum before taking third in the Mixed Team with Lukas Pachner (AUT).

“I’m really happy with the season so far, especially because I’m having so much fun riding,” says Zerkhold.

She says the team success was important and will drive her on for the second half of the season.

“After last season, the team World Cup podium means a lot to me. It feels amazing to get something back after putting in a lot of work – both on and off the snow,” Zerkhold adds.

That sense of fun and joy is what she is aiming for in Gudauri.

“I really like racing here in Georgia. The mountains and nature are really beautiful,” she says. “I hope I can show my best snowboarding this weekend and, most importantly, keep having fun racing with the girls.”

In Gudauri last season Zerkhold was ninth and 11th over the two days of competition. The weekend in February 2024 proved successful for eventual Crystal Globe winner Chloe Trespeuch (FRA), who was first and second on days 1 and 2 respectively. Trespeuch was beaten by Bankes on day 2.

Michela Moioli (ITA) is currently fourth overall and was fourth both days in Gudauri last season. This year, the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic champion has made every semifinal and both big finals in Beidahu, including second place on day 1 in China.

The Italian rider is chasing Casta and Josie Baff (AUS), who in turn continue to challenge Bankes as the Briton looks for her third Crystal Globe.

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Facts & Figures

5: There have been five individual SBX World Cup races so far this season and there are five to go
5: Five nations (Canada, Germany, France, Austria and Australia) are represented in the top five in the men’s overall standings
85: The points gap between Bankes and Casta ahead of the Gudauri World Cup

QUICK LINKS

Race Calendar
2024-25 Men's Cup Standings
2024-25 Women's Cup Standings
Start lists - Gudauri, GEO
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