US's Greenwood Wins GS World Cup Opener
Rosey Fletcher Takes 5th in Women's Race
Monday, November 17, 1997


Greenwood
With just over 11 weeks before snowboarding makes its Olympic debut in Nagano, Japan, the USâs Jeff Greenwood won the opening FIS Grundig World Cup giant slalom Friday in Tignes, France. Greenwood was second to Franceâs own Nick Conte after the first run but was able to pull it out in the second run to win with a combined time of 2:06.96.

Conte, the ISF GS World Cup champion finished with a two-run time of 2:07.77 with Italyâs Thomas Prugger third at 2:08.07. US rider Chris Klug, of Aspen, Colorado, finished seventh.

Greenwood, known for his cappuccino infused race days won the gold at the first FIS World Championships in 1996. FIS points determine team size and seeding, but the US Olympic Snowboard Team will be chosen after tallying the points gained in the three Bud Light Grand Prixâs.

"Jeff's first run was good, especially on the bottom pitch. And his second run was really clean, although he went down on his chest briefly at the top of the final pitch," U.S. Coach Peter Foley said. "He really rode the pitch fast both times. Conte rode the top well on his second run but he kinda backed off on the pitch."

Ruby
On Thursday, Karine Ruby, on her home snow, retained her World Cup champion title out of the field of 87 riders, "an indication of the huge fields expected for the first half of the season as riders from the ISF tour seek to do well in events organized by the International Ski Federation (FIS), which has the Olympic franchise for snowboarding," information provided by the US Ski and Snowboard Association said.

Rubyâs two-run time of 2:01.39 beat her competitors by nearly two seconds. Italyâs Martina Magenta finished second at 2:03.02 with Austriaâs Manuela Riegler close behind at 2.03.10.

Fletcher
For the Americans, Rosey Fletcher of Girdwood, Alaska led U.S. riders with a fifth place finish in the women's race with a combined time of 2:05.03. Lisa Kosglow, of Boise, Idaho, finished ninth and Leslee Olson, of Bend, Oregon, finished 11th.

Results

Men's Giant Slalom
1. Jeff Greenwood, Granby, Conn., 2:06.96
2. Nicholas Conte, France, 2:07.77
3. Thomas Prugger, Italy, 2:08.07
4. Martin Freinademetz, Austria, 2:08.56
5. Uell Kestenholtz, Switzerland, 2:08.79
6. Gilles Jaquet, Switzerland, 2:08.99
7. Chris Klug, Aspen, Colo., 2:09.18
8. Maxence Idesheim, France, 2:09.33
9. Ross Rebagliatti, Canada, 2:09.42
10. Darron Chalmers, Canada, 2:09.56
11. Jeff Archibald, Salt Lake City, 2:10.06
21. Rob Berney, Whitefish, Mont., 2:12.08
26. Mike Jacoby, Hood River, Ore., 2:12.85
55. Peter Thorndike, Stratton Mountain, Vt.
59. Anton Pogue, Hood River, Ore.
121. Steve Persons, Whitefish, Mont.

Women's GS
1. Karine Ruby, France, 2:01.39
2. Martina Magenta, Italy, 2:03.02
3. Manuela Riegler, Austria, 2:03.10
4. Isabelle Blanc, France, 2:04.89
5. Rosey Fletcher, Girdwood, Alaska, 2:05.03
6. Charlotte Bernard, France, 2:05.05
7. Isabelle Zedlacher, Austria, 2:05.12
8. Burgi Heckmair, Germany, 2:05.20
9. Lisa Kosglow, Boise, Idaho, 2:05.67
10. Sandra Farmand, Germany, 2:05.70
11. Leslee Olson, Bend, Ore., 2:06.00
22. Sondra Van Ert, Ketchum, Idaho, 2:10.07
25. Stacia Hookom, Edwards, Colo., 2:11.04
35. Lynn Ott, Bend, Ore.
43. Erin O'Malley, Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
44. Julie Zell, Jackson, Wyo.
48. Madeleine Hengge, Boulder, Colo.
69. Melissa Tirpak, Northfield, Ohio

Watch for World Cup Halfpipe Event Results Soon

— Sarah Love, Mountain Zone Staff

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