SNOWBOARDING:

Aussie Johnstone, China’s Cai lock up snowboard halfpipe titles

March 26, 2011 — Canada Snowboard

AROSA, Switzerland — Australian snowboarder and world champion Nathan Johnstone finished fifth in the men’s halfpipe contest at the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup in Arosa, Switzerland, on Saturday, enough to capture the prestigious crystal globe in men’s halfpipe, as well as the overall freestyle title.

The Swiss riders swept the men’s podium on their home soil. Iouri Podladtchikov won with a score of 27.6 points. Jan Scherrer finished second (27.2), followed by Patrick Burgener in third (26.9).

In women’s action, Chinese rider Xuetong Cai also won both the halfpipe and overall freestyle titles. Entering the last World Cup event of 2011, Cai had a solid lead that proved insurmountable to pass for the women’s world champion, Holly Crawford of Australia.

Spanish rider Queralt Castellet rode to the first place in the contest with a performance worth 27.0 points. Holly Crawford took second place (25.5), followed by Xuetong Cai of China in third (24.7).

No Canadians riders were entered in the competition.

The 2011 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup Tour ends Sunday with the presentation with the last race of the calendar, a parallel giant slalom.