Trespeuch & Grondin lift globes in season finale

The dominant favorites delivered once again for the final FIS World Cup event of the season with Sunday’s FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup.

Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) made the big final to clinch her first career crystal globe after leading the overall standings for most of the season. Charlotte Bakes (GBR) won on the day to sweep the weekend and close her season with a flourish. Eliot Grondin (CAN) owned the men’s tour all season and ended his season with a victory lap on home snow.

The women’s race was drama-filled, and it all came down to the top four women in the standings going to battle for the big final. Trespeuch (FRA) had already clinched the crystal globe but was gunning for the win.

Instead Bankes pulled off her trademark late charge to pull off the victory and glide past the field.

Michela Moioli (ITA) came across just behind Bankes for second and Josie Baff (AUS) rounded out the podium after a strong day. Trespeuch settled for fourth after a small mistake in turn five in the dazzling final race of the year.

The French rider used a late charge to advance in the quarterfinals. She then snuck through in second in the semis to make the big final on a shaky day for the leader. Trespeuch goes home with her head held high, winning her first career globe.

“It means a lot. I have been waiting a long time for this globe. I was often second or third but never won the globe, so I appreciate a lot this day and my team,” Trespeuch said.

She finishes the season with three victories and seven podiums. Her new crystal globe goes alongside her other career achievements including Olympic silver and bronze medals but she is not done yet.

“Next year I will try to have more victories. It was my record this year with three victories so next year I hope to have four,” Trespeuch said.

Coming into the day Bankes had a slim chance to win her third straight crystal globe. She settled for the weekend sweep instead as she closes the season with two straight wins after a tough beginning to the season.

“The start of the season was very frustrating, but we reset after that. I am really happy with how I bounced back. Coming away with the double win was a nice way to finish the season. We showed our strength as a team to bounce back after a very difficult start, and to come away with an (overall) podium is unbelievable,” Bankes said.

Bankes ends the year in second in the overall standings, just 35 points behind Trespeuch. She compiled seven podiums on the year, all coming in the final eight races after her slow start. She finishes the year with season-leading five wins and runs her career tally to 20 World Cup wins.

Three-time overall champion Moioli (ITA) ends the year in third overall after her second-place finish on Sunday. She racked up five podiums and two wins this season.

Baff (AUS) ends the year in fourth. The Australian youngster never found the top of the podium but achieved the triumvirate five times this season. 

Eva Adamczykova (CZE) was late to the tour, missing the first two events as she competed in a reality TV dancing competition back home. She used the right steps to make up for lost time and ended the year in fifth. She danced her way to one win and four podiums on the season.

Sina Siegenthaler (SUI) was the only victorious woman rider this season. She took the second race of the year in Cervinia. She ended the year in eighth. 

Women’s Final Standings

1.        Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) – 792 points

2.        Charlotte Bankes (GBR) – 757 points

3.        Michela Moioli (ITA) – 704 points

4.        Josie Baff (AUS) – 608 points

5.        Eva Adamczykova (CZE) – 573 points

On the men’s side it was more of the same as Grondin closed his dominant season with a weekend sweep on home snow. Grondin made some early mistakes in the earlier rounds but did enough to make the big final once again. He mastered his line on the way to a second straight win on a mountain just 45 minutes from his home.

“I knew I had to find some more speed than yesterday. I made small mistakes today, but I knew what to do to fix them. I went for it and took some risks at the start, was pretty tough and then I knew what line I had to run to get to the bottom in first and it held. I am happy to get the back-to-back win at home in front of everyone,” Grondin said. 

Grondin ends the year with his first career crystal globe a whopping 348 points ahead of second. He podiumed in ten of twelve races this season. His weekend sweep gives him seven wins on the year and brings his career total to 10 World Cup wins.

“It means a lot. I have been riding well all year and super consistent. Having seven wins in one year is crazy. Now to have the win and the globe at home in front of family, friends and fans is such a great feeling,” Grondin said.

Cameron Bolton (AUS) came second in the big final for the fourth time this season, repeating his position from Saturday. Leon Ulbricht (GER) came in third for his second podium of the year after winning at Sierra Nevada earlier this month. Jakob Dusek (AUT) won a loaded small final. 

Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) suffered a disappointing end to another great season as he was knocked out in the first round. He ends the year second in the overall standings.

Bolton ends the year in third with four podiums. Merlin Surget (FRA) comes in fourth after one win and one third-place finish this season. Rounding out the overall top five was Omar Visintin (ITA) who podiumed twice this season.

Men’s Final Overall Standings

1.        Eliot Grondin (CAN) – 952 points

2.        Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) – 604 points

3.        Cameron Bolton (AUS) – 552 points

4.        Merlin Surget (FRA) – 383 points

5.        Omar Visintin (ITA) – 357 points

France captured the Snowboard Cross Nation’s Cup as the top performing country (both genders combined) on the tour. Italy took the Nation’s Cup for the overall Snowboard title across all disciplines.

The crystal globes were not the only awards given out. Mia CLIFT (AUS) was the women’s Snowboard Cross Rookie of the Season and Nathan Pare (USA) took the men’s honor.

That ends the compelling campaign for the 2023-24 FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup. The riders will return in December for next season which includes the 2025 World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland.

QUICK LINKS

Full 2023/204 FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Standings – Women
Full 2023/204 FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Standings – Men
Full 2023/24 FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Calendar
Mt. St. Anne (CAN) pictures