Arielle Gold and Iouri Podladtchikov new FIS Snowboard Halfpipe World Champions

Jan 21, 2013

Author: Oliver Kraus

While the reigning Junior World Champion and runner-up of the first ever Olympic Youth Games did honour to her last name by earning the highest score of 79.00 points in the first run of the six girls finals, Iouri Podladtchikov secured his first FIS World Championships title in the second run of the twelve men final being the last one to drop in.

"It's unbelievable," said I-Pod. "First, it seemed that nothing would work out throughout the whole day. It started with heavy snow fall, then I broke my board crashing in my first training run. And now Gold. That it all worked out in the very last run is amazing. I'm super happy.

"The conditions got a little bit worse but I was on fire to give it all in in my second run and make it," he added.

Although facing tough conditions due to the fresh snow, the top qualifier and 2011 Silver medalist relegated so far leading Taku Hiraoka (JPN, 93.75) to the second spot – with the tiny advantage of .50 points. Markus Malin (FIN, 86.75) took Bronze just like two years ago in La Molina, Spain.

On the women's side of things, deposed title defender Holly Crawford (AUS, 77.25) and Sophie Rodriguez (FRA, 72.50) rounded out the podium as second and third ranked riders, right next to the second youngest women ever to take halfpipe Gold at World Championships.

Jiayu Liu (CHN), who took Gold in 2009, remains the youngest one in history (16 years, 128 days).

The men's podium L-R: Taku Hiraoka (JPN, 93.75, silver), Iouri Podladtchikov SUI, 94.25, gold) Markus Malin (FIN, 86.75, bronze)

The women's podium L-R:H olly Crawford (AUS, 77.25, silver), Arielle Gold (USA, 79.00, gold) Sophie Rodriguez (FRA, 72.50, bronze)

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