Jacoby Finishes Third In Slalom As Snowboard World Cup Comes To U.S.

FRIDAY, March 8, 1996

BOREAL RIDGE, Calif. -- World Cup giant slalom champion Mike Jacoby

(Hood River, Ore.) picked up another World Cup podium finish on Friday at the X-nix Pacific Crest Ride in Boreal Ridge, Calif., the second-to-the-last stop on the Grundig FIS Snowboard World Cup tour. Jacoby finished third, with Rainer Krug of Germany picking up the win and Ulf Maard of Sweden second.

Jacoby, who wrapped up his second World Cup giant slalom title last weekend in Sun Peaks, British Columbia, put together two solid runs to claim his podium finish. "I like to just get through the first run and then go for it in the second run -- when I'm in first place after the first run, sometimes it's difficult to win because of the added pressure," said Jacoby, who sat in fourth place after the first run. "I like to come from behind."

"Last weekend in Sun Peaks [British Columbia], I wrapped up the giant

slalom title," Jacoby continued. "The combined [World Cup] title is still available, and for me to do well in slalom increases my odds of winning that title," said Jacoby, who is currently leading the World Cup combined standings. World Cup titles will be awarded at the World Cup finals in Mt. Bachelor, Ore., Mar. 14-18.

Boreal Ridge is a hometown stop for Jacoby, who grew up riding on the

mountain, and whose family was in the finish area Friday to watch him claim his podium finish. In women's competition, Lynn Ott (Bend, Ore.) was the top U.S. finisher, placing 12th.

"My first run wasn't so great, but I really had a good second run," said Ott. "It's a learning process to put two good runs together, and I'm getting closer with every race."

Competition continues on Saturday at Boreal Ridge with the men and

women's halfpipe. The U.S. women will be missing Stacia Hookom (Edwards, Colo.), who tore her anterior cruciate ligament in a free-riding accident on Wednesday. Hookom will be flying to Vail, Colo. on Monday to undergo further tests.

-- uss -- Grundig Snowboard World Cup
Boreal Ridge, CA, Fri., March 8

Slalom

Men:
1. Rainer Krug, GER, 55.59 seconds
2. Ulf Maard, SWE, 56.11
3. Mike Jacoby, Hood River, Ore., 56.55
4. Peter Pichler, ITA, 56.61
5. Mathias Behounek, GER, 56.62

OTHER U.S. RIDERS:
15. Manuel Mendoza, Whitefish, Mont., 1:01.50
16. Don Nyberg, 1:01.63
20. Rob Kingwell, Jackson, Wyo., 1:05.14

FIRST RUN ONLY:
31. Antonio Davilo, Flagstaff, Ariz., 33.20
32. Nathan Galpin, 33.34
35. Christ Anderson, 33.63
43. Ryan Mullen, 36.53
47. Mike Grasso, 39.98

DNF:
Jeff Greenwood, Granby, Conn.
Steve Persons, Whitefish, Mont.
Rob Berney, Whitefish, Mont.

DSQ
Tom O'Brien, Salt Lake City, Utah
Anton Pogue, Hood River, Ore.
Bill Enos, Waterville Valley, N.H.
Tom Lyman, Whitefish, Mont.

Women:
1. Karine Ruby, FRA, 1:02.83
2. Marcella Boerma, NED, 1:05.20
3. Birgit Herbert, AUT, 1:05.71
4. Marion Posch, ITA, 1:07.09
5. Alexandra Krings, AUT, 1:07.32

U.S. RIDERS:
12. Lynn Ott, Bend, Ore., 1:10.88
13. Sondra Van Ert, Ketchum, Idaho, 1:11.58

FIRST RUN ONLY:
19. Maria Bruno, 38.25
20. Jennifer Hicks, 38.54
21. Susan Connolly, 41.20
22. Jeanne Pogue, Hood River, Ore.
23. Kim Vandersyde, 41.88

DSQ.
Ashley Rice, Santa Ynez, Calif