PR: Van Ert Wins World Championships Gold In Women's Giant Slalom
(January 21, 1997)

SAN CANDIDO, Italy -- "I LOVE San Candido!" exclaimed a jubilant Sondra Van Ert (Ketchum, Idaho), who won her first World Championships title in the women's giant slalom Tuesday at the FIS World Snowboard Championships in San Candido. Van Ert adds her gold medal to the two bronze medals she won at the '96 World Snowboard Championships, including a bronze in GS.

Van Ert took the victory over '96 World GS Champion Karine Ruby of France, who finished second, and bronze medalist Margherita Parini of Italy. Rosey Fletcher (Girdwood, Alaska) finished fifth.

"When I heard the World Championships would be in San Candido, I was so excited - this is my third time competing here, and I do well here every time," said Van Ert, whose previous World Cup results in San Candido include a fifth in slalom ('96) and sixth in GS ('95). "There's great snow here every time, and the pasta can't be beat!"

Van Ert was the leader after the first run by two-hundreths of a second, with Ruby trailing in second. Van Ert surged to a nearly two-second lead at the mid-point of the course, and captured the victory by over half a second.

"My coach [Peter Foley, head coach] told me to ride more like training, and I think that helped me relax a little more [before the second run]," said Van Ert. "Between runs, I just free-rode a little bit, and tried to clear my head. During my second run, I kept thinking, "Ride like you do in training...you don't get that far away from the gate in training!"

"The conditions today were perfect for me - the snow wasn't too hard, but also wasn't too soft," said Van Ert. "I wanted to do my best here, but there are so many good girls. This win is so special to me."

In the finish area after her second run, Van Ert emotionally dedicated her victory to her recently deceased grandmother.

World Championships competition continues on Wednesday with the men's giant slalom.

Notes......Van Ert rode to victory in a boot bound together by United Airlines baggage tape. "I lost my bale before the second run, and I didn't want to loose my buckle, so Heath [Van Aken, coach] had this tape and wrapped me up. We checked in the baggage and I flew!"....The freestyle team, testing the snow conditions before halfpipe training began, spent their morning sledding down the face of the mountain, from the top of the gondola, on rented sleds. Inverted aerials were not allowed.

Women's Giant Slalom  Results - Tues., Jan. 21

1. Sondra Van Ert, Ketchum, Idaho, 2:26.04
2. Karine Ruby, France, 2:27.31
3. Margherita Parini, Italy, 2:28.99
4. Heidi Renoth, Germany, 2:29.33
5. Rosey Fletcher, Girdwood, Alaska, 2:29.61
6. Brigitte Petruzzi, Switzerland, 2:29.65
7. Maria Pichler, Austria, 2:29.76
8. Nathalie Desmares, France, 2:29.96
9. Lidia Trettel, Italy, 2:30.09
10. Isabelle Blanc, 2:30.16
11. Marion Posch, Italy, 2:30.26
12. Sandra Farmand, Germany, 2:30.57
13. Birgit Herbert, Austria, 2:30.66
14. Christine Gutter, 2:30.70
15. Burgl Heckmair, Germany, 2:30.83
16. Charlotte Bernard, France, 2:30.97
17. Manuela Riegler, Austria, 2:30.99
18. Isabell Zedlacher, Austria, 2:31.15
19. Victoria Jealouse, Canada, 2:31.43
20. Marie Birkl, Sweden, 2:31.61
21. Jagna Marczulajtis, Poland, 2:32.20
22. Shinobu Ueshima, Japan, 2:32.65
23. Ivana Trudel, Canada, 2:32.94
24. Lynn Ott, Bend, Ore., 2:32.99
25. Johanna Ruhala, Finland, 2:34.42
26. Luria Moga, Spain, 2:35.16
27. Muriel Vaney, Switzerland, 2:35.43
28. Lesley McKenna, Great Britian, 2:35.85
29. Steffi VanSiebenthal, Switzerland, 2:36.32
30. Malgorzata Kukucz, Poland, 2:36.84