Baumgartner Fifth, Gaskill Eighth in St. Moritz
It was another exciting day of racing in Switzerland for the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Cross Team at the St. Moritz World Cup. Nick Baumgartner led the way for the Americans, taking fifth and Stacy Gaskill was eighth.
Stacy Gaskill headed into finals sitting in second overall after an impressive showing in Thursday’s round of qualifications. She was joined by teammate Bri Schnorrbusch, making her first appearance back on the World Cup circuit after taking seventh at the Youth Olympic Games earlier in the week. Gaskill advanced through the round of quarterfinals, but was taken out in the round of semifinals after a tricky roller section late in the course proved costly for the American and finished the day in eighth place. Schnorrbusch finished 13th. Lindsey Jacobellis did not qualify for finals.
Nick Baumgartner was the top finisher on the men’s side, after a gutsy photo finish in the second quarterfinal earned him a spot in the semifinals. After falling to fourth in the round of semis, Baumgartner captured the top spot in the small final and finished the day fifth overall. He was joined in the day’s final rounds of racing by teammates Jake Vedder and Hagen Kearney, who both earned top-30 results. Vedder ended the day in 15th overall while Kearney took 26th in his first competition back from injury. Senna Leith, Boden Gerry, Nathan Pare, Tyler Hamel, Thoedore McLemore and Cody Winters did not qualify for finals.
The Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Cross Team turns their attention towards the next World Cup in Gudauri, Georgia, starting February 2.
