SNOWBOARDING:

Boivin, Hill ride high in season-ending World Cup SBX race

March 25, 2011 — Canada Snowboard

AROSA, Switzerland — The 2011 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup snowboardcross season came to an end Friday in Arosa, Switzerland, where Canadians fared well with François Boivin of Jonquière, Que., leading the way with a fifth-place finish.

Kevin Hill won the small final, finishing in seventh position. The young star, who finished the season as the top Canadian in the World Cup rankings, is expected to defend his national title at the Canada Snowboard Speed Nationals at Lake Louise, Alberta, from April 5-10.

Rob Fagan finished 18th, followed by Jake Holden in 19th position.

Current world champion Alex Pullin of Australia claimed the victory to secure the crystal globe in men’s snowboardcross. Pullin edged French rider Pierre Vaultier by a mere 60 points in the race for the globe.

Dominique Maltais of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Que., finished in eighth place. The race results had no impact for Maltais as she secured the crystal globe Thursday. Carle Brenneman, who posted two consecutive results in the top 12, finished 15th. Brenneman has had a tremendous end of the current season.

Bulgarian rider Alexandra Jekova finished the season in style, winning her second race in as many days. Jekova repeated Thursday’s feat, when she won Bulgaria’s first snowboardcross race on the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup tour. Jekova will finish her season in second place in World Cup standings with 4,040 points.

American rider Lindsey Jacobellis, four-time X Games winner and current world champion, finished second, and Nelly Moenne-Loccoz of France finished third.