Jacoby, Van Ert Pick Up Podium Finishes In World Cup GS

ALPINE MEADOWS, CA -- U.S. snowboarders Mike Jacoby (Hood River, OR)and Sondra Van Ert (Ketchum, ID) picked up World Cup podium finishes on Sunday in the giant slalom at the X-nix Pacific Crest Ride at Alpine Meadows, CA. Jacoby earned a second-place finish and Van Ert a third-place finish, as riders battled stormy, wet snow conditions.

Jacoby, who has already wrapped up the men's World Cup giant slalom title with five World Cup wins this season, finished second Sunday behind Austria's Peter Pechhacker. Mathias Behounek of Germany was third. U.S. rider Manuel Mendoza (Whitefish, MT) finished fourth.

Warm weather during the week made the giant slalom course very soft during training days. Clouds moved in Saturday evening, bringing springtime storms that dropped slush-like snow throughout Sunday's event, making race conditions difficult. "It was really hard to see -- I couldn't see at all as I crossed the finish line," said Jacoby, who grew up snowboarding in the Tahoe area. "But Alpine Meadows did a great job of maintaining the

course."

"I think [Alpine Meadows] did an excellent job of maintaining the course today," echoed Van Ert. "We trained here yesterday, and the snow was so soft that we didn't think there was a chance [to hold today's race]. But it's obvious that they put a lot of effort and time into holding a good event for us

today." Van Ert was third behind the winner, Ursula Fingerlos of Austria, and second-place Karine Ruby of France.

The Grundig FIS Snowboard World Cup tour now moves to Mt. Bachelor, OR for the World Cup finals, March 14-17, the final event for the 1995-96 competition season.

-- uss --

Grundig FIS Snowboard World Cup
Alpine Meadows, CA
Sunday, March 10, 1996
Giant Slalom
Men: 
1. Peter Pechhacker, AUT, 1:38.12
2. Mike Jacoby, Hood River, OR, 1:39.13
3. Mathias Behounek, GER, 1:39.24
4. Manuel Mendoza, Whitefish, MT, 1:39.61
5. Harald Walder, AUT, 1:40.36
OTHER U.S. RIDERS: 
10. Tom Lyman, Whitefish, MT, 1:41.30
19. Bill Enos, Waterville Valley, NH, 1:45.83
21. Antonio Davila, Flagstaff, AZ, 1:46.46
Did not qualify for second run 
26. Rob Berney, Whitefish,  MT, 50.43
27. Tom O'Brien, Salt Lake City, UT, 50.67
31. Ryan Mullen, Campton, NH, 51.68
38. Nathan Galpin, Ketchum, ID, 53.90
42. Anton Pogue, Hood River, OR, 54.89
48. Christ Anderson, Eugene, OR, 55.67
52. Mike Grasso, Waterville Valley, NH, 56.78
57. Don Nyberg, Squaw Valley, CA, 1:05.58
DSQ: 
Jeff Greenwood, Granby, CT
Steve Persons, Whitefish, MT
Chris Massaro, Vail, CO
Women:
1. Ursula Fingerlos, AUT, 1:47.91
2. Karine Ruby, FRA, 1:48.02
3. Sondra Van Ert, Ketchum, ID, 1:49.19
4. Dagmar Mair U.D. Eggen, ITA, 1:50.92
5. Alexandra Krings, AUT, 1:51.74
OTHER U.S. RIDERS: 
10. Lynn Ott, Bend, OR, 1:53.24
15. Erin O'Mally, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 2:02.96
Did not qualify for second run: 
20. Susan Connolly, Copper Mountain, CO, 1:00.75
21. Jennifer Hicks, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 1:01.48
23. Kim Vandersyde, Squaw Valley, CA, 1:04.44
DNF: Maria Bruno, South Lake Tahoe, CA
Grundig Snowboard World Cup Standings
Giant Slalom
Men: 
1. Mike Jacoby, Hood River, OR, 7100 points
2. Peter Pechhacker, AUT, 5460
3. Harald Walder, AUT, 4760
4. Thedo Remmelink, NED, 3660
5. Mathias Behounek, GER, 3140
OTHER U.S. RIDERS: 
7. Jeff Greenwood, Granby, CT, 2830
8. Tom Lyman, Whitefish, MT, 2750
9. Bill Enos, Waterville, Valley, NH, 2630
15. Rob Berney, Whitefish, MT, 1878
19. Steve Persons, Whitefish, MT, 1246
24. Manuel Mendoza, Whitefish, MT, 1106
32. Tom O'Brien, Salt Lake City, UT, 540
33. Antonio Davila, Flagstaff, AZ, 524
41. Anton Pogue, Hood River, OR, 383
50. Dave Lewis, 198
72T. Ryan Mullen, Campton, NH, 28
74. Nathan Galpin, Ketchum, ID, 27
92. Rob Kingwill, Jackson, WY, 5
97. Christ Anderson, Eugene, OR
Women: 
1. Karine Ruby, FRA, 6500
2. Ursula Fingerlos, AUT, 4450
3. Sondra Van Ert, Ketchum, ID, 4390
4. Birgit Herbert, AUT, 4390
5. Manuela Riegler, AUT, 4070
OTHER U.S. RIDERS: 
12. Lynn Ott, Bend, OR, 2190
15. Stacia Hookom, Edwards, CO, 1726
22. Erin O'Mally, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 730
31. Ashley Rice, Santa Ynez, CA, 440
39. Jennifer Hicks, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 212
43. Susan Connelly, Copper Mountain, CO, 110
48. Kim Vandersyde, Squaw Valley, CA, 80
52. Jeanne Pogue, Hood River, OR, 60