Gimpl does it again - Ben Clatworthy, Racing and Sports Correspondent
Tuesday November 24, 2009 - Email this article to a friend

It's 3 out of 3 for the veteran Austrian.

Austria’s Stefan Gimpl has made it the hatrick after winning the latest leg of the FIS LG Snowboard World Cup in Stockholm on Saturday evening. Up to 20,000 spectators were there cheering him on an we have heard that it was quite an atmosphere.

He won the season opener in London and then again in Barcolona at the beginning of the month.

Gimpl now has a 900-point lead over second place Gian Luca Cavigelli from Switzerland. He only managed 4th place in yesterday’s competition.

The 30 year old has been undefeated in the big-air events since January’s World Championships in Gangwon, Korea

Swiss youngster Gian-Luca Cavigelli pushed the Austrian hard at the first two events of the season.  However, yesterday he didn't look so comfortable in his first two runs and eventually finished fourth with 37.8.

Surprise came when Marco Grilc of Slovenia pulled out all the stops to finish in a very crediable 2nd place. In the 2 previous legs of the competition he finished 13th and 14th.

Gimpl does it again

The

"I don't understand it. I don't know why I'm on a roll. Especially as I'm always so nervous on top of the start that I can hardly stand. But when I'm in the in-run everything is blown off," Gimpl said after his victory.

The next big air World Cup is in Seoul, Korea on December 13.

So far the competition has held rounds in London and Barcelona; PlanetSKI was at the London event held at Battersea Power station.

It was quite a day - see here for a report and some video of the London event.

In both rounds Gimpl clinched victory by relegating Swiss up and coming talent Gian-Luca Cavigelli to the second place spot.

Competitor Henrik Harlaut from Sweeden injured his knee ths week whilst trampolining and has undergone surgery. He will be out for a further 6 weeks but hopes to be back in action for the Winter X-Games.

Henrik has kept up his good humor despite the fact that he can see construction workers building the Big Air jump for Winter Jam at the Stockholm Stadium from his hospital window, just 800 feet away.

Bookmark this page

Related Articles