SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Alessandro Haemmerle and Michela Moioli claimed their first major victories by winning snowboard cross World Cup events on Sunday.
Haemmerle, who led the final heat from the start, was followed by American Alex Deibolds and fellow Austrian Markus Schairer.
Moioli of Italy was a surprise winner in the women’s event when most of the World Cup leaders were eliminated in early rounds when they failed to finish in a heavy falling snow on a long and tough course. Nelly Moenne Loccoz of France finished second and was followed by Helene Olafsen of Norway.
The competition was the last of the snowboard test events, held this week at the Roza Khutor Extreme Park, a venue for the Sochi Olympics next year. The competitions were hampered by mild weather and heavy snowfalls and rains that forced organizers to cancel the slopestyle and parallel slalom events.
