LA MOLINA, Spain (AP) — Benjamin Karl of Austria and Alena Zavarzina of Russia earned commanding victories in the parallel giant slalom events at the snowboard world championships Wednesday.
Karl defeated Rok Marguc of Slovenia in the men’s final on the La Molina course. Rolan Fischnaller of Italy took third ahead of Switzerland’s Kaspar Fluetsch.
Zavarzina easily secured the women’s title after Claudia Riegler of Austrian slid when coming out of an early turn, falling too far behind to mount a challenge. It was the Russian’s first world title.
Doris Guenther of Austria edged German rider Amelle Kober for third.
Karl will try to defend his parallel slalom title Friday.
