Martin Nörl was the first German snowboard crosser to win a World Championship medal in 22 years. The 29-year-old from Lower Bavaria secured silver in a dramatic race in Bakuriani, Georgia, making it the first precious metal for Snowboard Germany in this discipline since Markus Ebner’s second place in 2001
Cross specialist Martin Nörl was the last remaining hope for a German snowboard medal at the World Championships in Bakuriani. The overall World Cup leader confidently made it to the final. And that was close and dramatic racing. Nörl finished almost at the same time as Jakob Dussek – victory was awarded to the Austrian after the photo finish.
A nail-biter for Nörl
But the Bavarian had to wait a long time for confirmation of the silver medal. Alessandro Hämmerle (AUT) fell and complained. The jury looked at the pictures for a long time and decided that Nörl did not hinder the Olympic champion. And then it was official: the 29-year-old won the long-awaited medal in his fifth appearance at the World Championships. The Italian Olympic bronze medalist Omar Visintin secured bronze.
Nörl was disappointed after the “little trembling party” but nothing to feel. Rather, he found it “lousy“that he can now call himself Vice World Champion: “I’m glad it went that way, my boards were incredibly strong.”
Ulbricht-Aus in the quarterfinals
For junior world champion Leon Ulbricht it was over in the quarterfinals, Leon Backhaus failed in the round of 16. Paul Berg, who was sixth at the last World Championships in Idre, Sweden, dropped out in the first round.
Fishermen with top results
Jana Fischer achieved a top result. The 23-year-old made it to the semifinals. But there the competition with Olympic champion Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) and Eva Adamczykova was too strong. In the small final, Fischer finished sixth – her best result of the season.
Top favorites get nothing, Adamczykova world champion
Two big favorites for the world title failed prematurely: defending champion Charlotte Bankes from Great Britain was eliminated in the round of 16. Overall World Cup leader Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) fell in the semifinals and ended up fifth. World champion was the Czech Eva Adamczykova, who was successful in Park City in 2019 under her maiden name Samkova. Silver went to Josie Baff from Australia. Olympic champion Lindsey Jacobellis from the USA secured bronze.