Benjamin Karl claims parallel slalom gold in Carezza
The second Parallel Slalom race of 2012 LG Snowboard International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup saw Austria’s Benjamin Karl walk away with top honours from the Pra di Tori slope at Carezza, Italy, on Thursday, December 22.
Switzerland’s Simon Schoch barely missed out on victory and thus had to settle for runner-up place, while Australia’s Siegfried Grabner edged past the Slovakian Jernej Demsar to secure the last remaining spot on the podium.
The 26-year-old Olympic silver medallist, Karl, was looking to redeem himself after missing out on victory after a crash at the giant slalom race a day earlier. To make the crash even bitterer, it had allowed his fellow countryman and closest rival Roland
Fischnaller to claim the win.
Coming to the parallel slalom race with an intention to settle for nothing less than victory, the Austrian rider held nothing back as he moved through the 29 gates on the Pra di Tori slope. Karl ended up crashing during the race, but recovered quickly and
capitalised on the mistakes made by his rival, Matthew Morrison, to eventually get to the bottom of the course first.
“I was going a different line and my coaches said right away I should stick with what I'm good in. And I did,” said Karl after the race. “It's the nicest Christmas present you can dream of. Now it's time to go home with my wife and celebrate. It couldn't
be any better. I'm really happy!”
The 33-year-old Schoch was not too disappointed with his runner-up place despite missing out on the win. The very fact that he had managed to qualify into the finals was enough to fill him up with joy.
"In the main, the joy outweighs. I just made it into the finals being the 16th fastest qualifier. However, I did get into it better. According to this, I'm pretty pleased," said Schoch.
The parallel slalom race in Carezza was the last race of LG Snowboard FIS World Cup in 2011. The action will resume with the third parallel slalom of the World Cup in Jauerling, Austria, on January 13 next year.
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