Jacoby Clinches Second World Cup GS Snowboard Title

MT. BACHELOR, OR -- Mike Jacoby (Hood River, OR) clinched his second World Cup GS title on Thursday, the first day of competition at the FIS World Cup finals at Mt. Bachelor, OR. Jacoby, who wrapped up the World Cup GS title several weeks ago at World Cup races in Canada, placed second in Thursday's GS.

"Jacoby has been incredibly consistent all year, "said U.S. Snowboard head coach Peter Foley. Jacoby won five World Cup GS events during the 1995-96 season to clinch the season-long title.

"I'm really excited about this title," said Jacoby. "This has been a really great season for me -- I've had a lot of victories. Hopefully I can do as well next year. I'm going to go train really hard, because I know everybody is going to be out to get me next year. People are going to try to take me down next year, so I've got to stand up and answer!"

"The first run I had a lot of fun," said Jacoby of his performance Thursday. "The course was really fast and I had a good time with it. I made a few small mistakes, but I felt really good going into the second run...The second run was really turny -- almost like slalom. And for that one, I just held on and went for the rodeo, and I came out second place -- I'm really stoked."

"The advantage that I had today was that it was like the last day of school -- tomorrow I'm out!" Jacoby said, of his last GS race for the season.

Sondra Van Ert (Ketchum, ID) wrapped up her season of World Cup GS competition with a second place finish on Thursday, also finishing second in the World Cup GS standings. She clinched Thursday's podium finish in front of her family. "My parents have never seen me race in a snowboard World Cup, so this is really cool, " said Van Ert.

"I just gave it my best shot," said Van Ert of her performance. "It's a beautiful, sunny day -- you can't help but have fun out here on a GS day like today! I looked at the courses today, and the two courses [first and second runs] were really different. I was just going after it as fast as I could, and trying to stay on top of my game. Things came at you quick, and I

wanted to be right on the panels each time."

"The second run was a really turny course," echoed Van Ert. "And I was just trying to make smooth, clean turns."

The World Cup finals continue on Friday with the men and women's slalom.

Grundig FIS World Cup Snowboard Finals

Giant Slalom
Mt. Bachelor, OR, Thurs. Mar. 14
Men
1. Harald Walder, AUT, 2:33.90
2. Mike Jacoby, Hood River, OR, 2:34.32
3. Dieter Moherndl, GER, 2:34.54
4. Thedo Remmelink, NED, 2:34.83
5. Maxence Idesheim, FRA, 2:35.63
OTHER U.S. RIDERS: 
8. Tom Lyman, Whitefish, MT, 2:36.31
10. Jeff Greenwood, Granby, CT, 2:37.31
13. Manuel Mendoza, Whitefish, MT, 2:39.36
15. Bil Enos, Waterville Valley, NH, 2:41.71
22. Rob Berney, Whitefish, MT, 2:43.64
Did not qualify for second run: 
29. Steve Persons, Whitefish, MT
31. Ryan Mullen, Campton, NH
33. Christ Anderson, Eugene, OR
37. Antonio Davila, Flagstaff, Ariz.
38. Peter Rubincam, Sun Valley, ID
39. Anton Pogue, Hood River, OR
40. Tom O'Brien, Salt Lake City, UT
42. Mike Grasso, Waterville Valley, NH
47. Nathan Galpin, Ketchum, ID
DNF: Don Nyberg, Squaw Valley, CA
Women
1. Karine Ruby, FRA, 2:43.16
2. Sondra Van Ert, Ketchum, ID, 2:44.71
3. Manuela Riegler, AUT, 2:44.99
4. Ursula Fingerlos, AUT, 2:45.38
5. Birgit Herbert, AUT, 2:45.75
OTHER U.S. RIDERS
14. Lynn Ott, Bend, OR, 3:05.96
Did not qualify for second run: 
16. Erin O'Mally, Mammoth Lakes, CA
22. Susan Connolly, Copper Mountain, CO
23. Kim Vandersyde, Squaw Valley, CA
24. Maria Bruno, South Lake Tahoe, CA
25. Heidi Calkins, Bend, OR
26. Jennifer Hicks, Mammoth Lakes, CA
Final World Cup Giant Slalom Standings
Men
1. Mike Jacoby, 7900 points
2. Peter Pechhacker, AUT, 5820
3. Harald Walder, AUT, 5760
4. Thedo Remmelink, NED, 4160
5. Stefan Kaltschutz, AUT, 3530
OTHER U.S. RIDERS: 
7. Jeff Greenwood, 3090
8. Tom Lyman, 3070
9. Bill Enos, 2790
15. Rob Berney, 1968
20. Manuel Mendoza, 1306
21. Steve Person, 1282
34. Tom O'Brien, 551
35. Antonio Davila, 540
42. Anton Pogue, 395
50. Dave Lewis, 198
63. Ryan Mullen, 56
73. Nathan Galpin, 31
76. Christ Anderson, 27
82. Peter Rubincam, 14
91. Mike Grasso, 9
96. Rob Kingwill, Jackson, WY, 5.
Women
1. Karine Ruby, FRA, 7500
2. Sondra Van Ert, 5190
3. Ursula Fingerlos, AUT, 4950
4. Birgit Herbert, AUT, 4840
5. Manuela Riegler, AUT, 4670
OTHER U.S. RIDERS: 
12. Lynn Ott, 2370
15. Stacia Hookom, Edwards, CO, 1726
21. Erin O'Mally, 880
32. Ashley Rice, 440
38. Jennifer Hicks, 262
42. Susan Connolly, 200
43. Kim Vandersyde, 160
51, Maria Bruno, 70
54T. Heidi Calkins, 60
54T. Jeanne Pogue, Hood River, OR, 60