honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 8:28 a.m., Saturday, March 7, 2009

Snowboarding: Grimpl wins third World Cup Big Air overall title

Associated Press

MOSCOW — Defending champion Stefan Gimpl dominated the final snowboarding Big Air event on Saturday to earn his third career overall World Cup title.

The 29-year-old Austrian topped two of three runs to total 50.4 points, four points ahead of second-placed Thomas Franc of Switzerland. Slovenia's Marco Grilc had 45.5 for third.

"It was a wonderful season," said Gimpl, who also won in Stoneham, Canada, last month and only failed to make the podium in one of five events this season. "I guess I should think of retirement while I'm on the top."

Gimpl dominated the big air standings with 4,100 points to earn the Crystal Globe. He also won last year and in 2006. Grilc was second with 1,640. Peetu Piiroinen of Finland, who skipped the event, was third with 1,450.

With the victory, Gimpl moved into third place in the overall World Cup snowboarding standings led by fellow Austrians Siegfried Grabner (4,700 points) and Markus Schairer (4,340).

The event was held on an artificial slope erected near Moscow University in the Vorobyovy hills.