Bitter race for snowboard crosser Martin Nörl: Last season’s German overall World Cup winner dropped out in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Saturday (February 4th, 2023) through no fault of his own in the round of 16. Umito Kirchwehm also had to give up after a fall.
Nörl had his sights set on his fourth podium in the fourth race of the season in northern Italy. But after a promising start in the round of 16, he was cleared by his opponent Filippo Ferrari.
The Italian was lying on his back and pulled Nörl to the ground with his fall. That was the end of the race for both of them. Ferrari had to be treated afterwards. Nörl had won the World Cup in Les Deux Alpes at the start in December.
Kirchwehm is also eliminated after a fall festival
Since Paul Berg and Leon Beckhaus were also eliminated in third place in their round of 16, only Umito Kirchwehm held up the German colors in the round of the top 16. The 22-year-old also benefited from falls from his opponents during his run and finished second.
In the quarter-finals, Kirchwehm cleverly kept in wait. After a wave, he even worked his way up to second place, but then it took him off the slope after a jump. Kirchwehm fell and had no more chances for the next round.
Surget takes first World Cup victory
The Frenchman Merlin Surget prevailed in the final and celebrated his first World Cup victory. Surget benefited from a crash by Dutchman Glenn de Blois, whom they threw off the track halfway through the race while in the lead. Surget took advantage of the mistake and finished 0.32 seconds ahead of the American Jake Vedder and his compatriot Leo Le Ble Jaques (+0.60 seconds).
Fischer fails in qualifying – Bankes wins
Jana Fischer from Team Snowboard Germany was the only woman to start. However, the 23-year-old had to admit defeat in qualifying.
British Charlotte Bankes won. Last season’s overall World Cup winner jumped past her opponents in the middle of the race and won ahead of Faye Gulini from the USA (+0.14 seconds). Chloe Trespeuch from France finished third and defended her lead in the overall World Cup.
Like the men, the women also had to contend with plenty of falls. In the first semi-final, three riders went down at once: Bankes, Belle Brockhoff and Michela Moioli. Bankes was able to get them up the fastest and secured the final ticket and ultimately the second win this winter.