Chris Klug and Sondra van Ert made it a pure US race today, both taking gold in the parallel giant slalom at Berchtesgaden. Matthieu Bozzetto and Nicolas Huet from France, both wearing yellow World Cup leader bibs today, were the top contenders for podium spots. But with his first World Cup win of the season, Klug made it a very different day.

	Chris Klug

"The dual is tricky for sure," said Klug. "You never really know. Once you get to the final, anything could happen to the top 16. The 16th can win and number one can win. You've just got to have some experience and know who you're going against. Definitely, strategy is a big part of it.

"There's sometimes the little piece of luck you need," Klug added, "but if you're riding consistently, without a lot of big mistakes, you're going to win. Some guys made some mistakes against me in the quarter finals and the semi finals and this definitely helped. For Bozzetto and Huet it maybe just wasn't their day today. Without a doubt, they are the strongest riders here. I'll be looking out for them in the next few weeks."

"Some guys made some mistakes against me in the quarter finals and the semi finals and this definitely helped. For Bozzetto and Huet it maybe just wasn't their day today...."— Chris Klug, USA

Stephen Copp (SWE) made it to 2nd while Austrians Felix Stadler and Werner Ebenbauer finished 3rd and 4th, respectively. Copp is now leading the parallel giant slalom standings, ahead of Huet and Bozzetto.

Americans van Ert and Rosey Fletcher have consistently made it to the finals. But today, after Italy's Marion Posch beat Fletcher in the quarter finals, it was all up to van Ert. She faced Austria's Manuela Riegler and lost the first run, but made up the time in the second run to complete the US triumph.

	Bozzetto

"Parallel is always like that, making so many runs," van Ert stated. "I'm really excited, this is the first time I made the finals (this season). I thought Rosey was going to be there right with me and it was disappointing not to have her up there. But with Klug winning, it was a great day for the Americans. And Peter Foley was here and so he can come to the races whenever he wants."

The US coach missed both Sestriere and Mont Sainte Anne, when both van Ert and Fletcher made it to the podium in those races.

World Cup competition continues tomorrow with the halfpipe contest. With 50 women in the qualification round, this marks the first race of the season in which the men's and women's fields held similar numbers. There were 16 finalists in both divisions today while in the past there have only been eight women finalists.

—Britta Semmler, MountainZone.com Correspondent