Ledecka and Coratti victorious in Rogla

Jan 18, 2020·Snowboard Alpine

The fourth stop of the FIS Snowboard Alpine PGS World Cup tour hit the foggy slope of Rogla (SLO) on Saturday, with Ester Ledecka (CZE) and Edwin Coratti (ITA) taking victories to wrap up an exciting week of the finest snowboard racing.

Visiting arguably the most lively venue on tour, the FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup was back in action for its fourth competition over the course of just eight days and yet once again, the fans that gathered around the race slope in Rogla were kept entertained from first to last heat of the competition.

Looking at the women’s side of the event, Ester Ledecka reached for her first World Cup victory on the snowboard alpine tour in just her second start of the season. With the first two months of competition racing on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup circuit, Ledecka made a spectacular comeback with a second place finish in a PSL competition in Bad Gastein just three days ago.

After eliminating Zang Ruxin (CHN), Julie Zogg (SUI) and Natalia Soboleva (RUS) on her way to the big final, Ledecka and the current World Cup leader Ramona Theresia Hofmeister (GER) - who up to this point was unbeaten in PGS in 2019/20 - met once again in the final match-up of the women’s competition.

Right from the start gate both Ledecka and Hofmeister stormed through the course going head-to-head before the German rider slipped in the middle section of the course, ending her five-race winning streak, and leaving Ledecka to cross the line in first place.

“It was a great day and a great race,” said Ledecka,”Of course it was very, very even, and every heat it was a though race. All the girls were running very fast so I had to create some speed and push it. And I was happy with this, because I love racing. It was an amazing day.”

Hofmeister finished the competition in second place, also maintaining her spot on top of the PGS World Cup ranking. After four competitions in the season Hofmeister has 3800 points and almost 2000 points advantage over second in the ranking Ladina Jenny (SUI) with 1870 points.

Third place on the day went to Natalia Soboleva, who came victorious against Daniela Ulbing (AUT) by just .11s in the small final.

Over in men’s competition Edwin Coratti (ITA) repeated his last year’s performance, while leading another 1-2 punch for the Italian Snowboard Team - with first one coming from Bagozza and Bormolinie at Tuesday’s PSL competition in Bad Gastein earlier this week.

In the men’s big final Coratti managed to edge out the current yellow World Cup bib owner and his compatriot Rolland Fischnaller after a thrilling match-up won by Coratti by just 0.28s. It was his first World Cup victory of the season and his career’s second victory at the venue in Rogla.

“It’a amazing”, said Coratti, “I love this slope here in Rogla and it’s absolutely cool. I can carve from the top to the bottom and it’s amazing to win again. But it’s always a long road also over the summer and during preparations for the season. You always have to fight for those podiums and that’s why I’m so happy with this victory.”

Finishing in second place also Fischnaller maintained his PGS World Cup leader status. The Italian veteran has 3160 points after four events, while second in the standing Benjamin Karl (AUT) has 1760 points.

Vic Wild (RUS) rounded out the men’s podium in third place, for his first World Cup podium since 2015/16 season. In the small final Wild bested his teammate Dmitry Loginov by 0.22s.

The FIS Snowboard Alpine tour will now move to Piancavallo (ITA) with back-to-back PSL and PSL Mixed Team events scheduled to take place next Saturday and Sunday.

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