Casta and Dusek stun in Snowboard Cross season opener

Dec 14, 2024·Snowboard Cross

The 2024-25 FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup was unleashed upon the slopes of Cervinia. The first race of the year brought action-packed drama and strong performances from the sport’s stars.

It was youngster Lea Casta (FRA) making a splash with her first ever World Cup win on the women’s side. Jakob Dusek (AUT) dominated the day winning all his heats to take the top prize for the men.

Dusek wins crash-filled final

Last season this venue was one of few without Eliot Grondin (CAN) on top of the podium. Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) won in Cervinia last season but was out this weekend with a back injury. That opened the door for another Austrian to fill the void.

Reigning world champion from Bakuriani 2023 Jakob Dusek (AUT) qualified first and won every heat including a chaotic big final to win his second career World Cup race. The first coming here in Cervinia in 2021. It was his ninth career World Cup podium.

Dusek outdueled the defending overall champion Grondin. The two were neck-and-neck in the first stage before lightly brushing edges. The mixup caused Grondin to go down and he could not recover as he ended with a DNF. Grondin stormed off after the race in clear disappointment. The judges ruled no penalty for the small contact, crowning Dusek the winner.

“My riding felt super good. It is a bittersweet victory because I didn’t want to crash with Eliot (GRONDIN). I don’t want to see anybody crash and am super sorry that we tangled but, I don’t think it was unfair or anything. I am super happy that I won today and it was a great weekend,” Dusek said. “I think we all had fun today, me especially.”

Cameron Bolton (AUS) navigated the chaos to cruise in at second place. It was his ninth career World Cup podium. Early on in the race Lorenzo Sommariva (ITA) fell on the first element but returned to his board to finish third on the podium in front of the home fans.

Quentin Sodogas (FRA) picked up the win in the small final. Martin Noerl (GER) was ousted in the quarterfinals in his return to the tour after missing last season due to injury. Italian favorite Omar Visintin (ITA) did not qualify for the knockout rounds in front of the home crowd.

Lea Casta summits the podium @Pentaphoto

Men’s Results

Jakob Dusek (AUT) - 100 points
Cameron Bolton (AUS) - 80 points
Lorenzo Sommariva (ITA) - 60 points
Eliot Grondin (CAN) - 50 points
Quentin Sondogas (FRA) - 45 points

Casta cruises to first World Cup win

The top half of the women’s bracket was heavy, culminating in a thrilling semifinal that saw Lea Casta (FRA) and Charlotte Bankes (GBR) duel it out with Casta getting the slight edge as both advanced. Italian favorite Michela Moioli (ITA) finished third and was eliminated by the slightest margin.

In the second semifinal, Josie Baff (AUS) took control from wire to wire to advance while last year’s winner in Cervinia, Sina Siegenthaler (SUI), did not progress to the big final.

There was a young crowd in the big final with every rider under the age of 29, including two 18-year-olds from France. Casta posted the fastest qualifying time and her speed proved to be no fluke as she raced out ahead of the field.

The 18-year-old fended off a fierce effort from the field to top the podium for the first time in her career, immediately erupting in tears after crossing the finish line.

“I am so happy. I am very proud of myself, it is a big first thing for me. I cried when I made my first podium and now I am still crying again,”– Casta said.

It was Casta’s third time on a World Cup podium in her young career. Baff threw down a solid run to finish second, her tenth career podium. Maja-Li Iafrate Danielson (FRA) picked up her first career podium in third.

Lea Casta crosses the line in first in the big final. @Pentaphoto

Former overall champion Bankes fell early in the big final and could not come back from the stumble as she finished fourth. Noemie Wiedmer (SUI) won the small final to round out the top five.

The FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup will break for the holidays before returning to action. The tour will move to the Far East with a stop in Beidahu, China. The riders will compete in two races starting January 31. The event scheduled for Dolni Morava in January was cancelled.

Women’s Results