Stefan Gimpl wins Big Air in Quebec City and crowns himself 2009 World Cup title winner / 15,000 spectators watch first ever Big Air in Quebec City / Grilc back to business

With a performance secure as always, Stefan Gimpl not only claimed the Gold medal in the first Big Air on North American soil since five years but also secured the Crystal Globe for the BA World Cup title already after four events of the 2009 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup in this discipline. The Salzburg country side resident scored massive 52.2 points in the final in Quebec, Canada, relegating Slovenia’s Marko Grilc (47.4) and Belgian Seppe Smits (46.9) to the second and third rank respectively. More than 15,000 spectators watched the first ever Big Air World Cup in Quebec City which was staged right between two wings of the route 440.
In absence of his main rival in the race for the Big Air crown, Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), 29-year-old Gimpl celebrated his third World Cup title already after being the season’s best in 2006 and 2008. Having started in only 17 World Cups so far, the Austrian freestyle veteran claimed his career’s fifth victory. “I really like the fact that I was able to win again after such a long time plus securing the World Cup title already – especially as I had some problems with the kicker in the beginning due to the soft snow. But then it was all good and I got used to the big air time” said Gimpl. How well he got used to it the 2009 World Championships Bronze medalist, who had spun a “Cab 900” in his first two attempts and thus was sitting in third position, showed in the final run. Nailing a smooth and absolutely clear “Frontside 900”, Gimpl earned the top score of today’s finals setting so far leading Seppe Smits and runner-up Thomas Franc (SUI) under pressure.

In the end, both contenders failed facing this raised bar. Franc crashed will trying a “Backside 900” and Smits, who had placed at the World Championships better than Gimpl earning Silver, didn’t gain enough points for his “Backside 720” to knock the Austrian style machine of the top podium spot. “Although I was in front before, I’m not disappointed at all. In contrary, I’m super happy that I landed my last jump as it was the first time that I tried to backspin on this kicker” said the 17-year-old rider from Belgium who had sticked a “cab 900” in his first tries – just like later on winning Stefan Gimpl.

Finally, the Austrian did also celebrate a preterm World Cup title win although he didn’t had estimated this at all – despite his big lead in the ranking: “Well, I’m a little bit surprised as I didn’t expect this at all. In the beginning of the season I just wanted to find out what might be in there. Then I noticed that if I would not do it this season, the competition would definitely be tougher the next years. I have to thank the whole Austrian squad as I would never have got that far without this amazing team spirit we have” explained the newly minted 2009 Big Air World Cup winner.

Successful comeback for Slovenian

Marko Grilc was also more than pleased. In October 2008, the Slovenian rider had dislocated his hip in the season’s first Big Air being staged in London. Thereafter Grilc was afraid of not being able to get on the snowboard again this winter. Thus, “I’m just happy to be snowboarding after all I’ve been through. It’s a good feeling to be back and part of it again. I’m super stoked that I can snowboard this winter.” In addition, the 25-year-old gave some of his good feelings back to the 15,000 spectator strong cheering crowd in Quebec also proving that a “Backflip” might bring the sound level to its maximum  - especially performed as “Double Backflip” as last jump after having nailed a “Frontside 900” in his first runs. “I didn’t do it just for the people. I adjust my tricks according to the conditions at site.”