Jacobellis Strives for Crystal Globe at Final World Cup
The race for the coveted FIS Snowboard World Cup Crystal Globe comes down to the Verysonnaz World Cup in Switzerland Saturday. Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, Vt.) is currently tied with Czech Republic’s Eva Samkova in the FIS Snowboardcross World Cup standings.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself to race and win the title," said Jacobellis. "But at the end of the day, I can look at how I am pushing a developing the sport for years to come. I am confident that I have the ability to take the title but it will just come down to the day."
The six-time FIS World Champion and three-time World Cup Champion Jacobellis must finish ahead of Samkova to claim the title. The top 16 women and 32 men competing on the snowboardcross World Cup Tour will compete in Veysonnaz. Joining Jacobellis in Veysonnaz is U.S. Snowboardcross Teammate and three-time Olympian Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City, Utah) will compete for the women.
For the men, 2018 Junior World Champion Jake Vedder (Pickney, Mich.), Olympic bronze medalist Alex Deibold (Manchester, Vt.) and 2019 double FIS World Champion Mick Dierdorff (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) will look to cap off his season with a strong result.
“Veysonnaz has always been one of my favorite events and an awesome place to finish up the World Cup season,” said Dierdorff. “The top of the course follows a different path this year, which will be a new challenge, but I’m super excited to get the course figured out. After finishing just off the podium in Spain I’m hungry to finish this last race standing on the box and taking home a big wheel of raclette.”
In addition, eight-time X Game gold medalist Nate Holland (Sandpoint, Idaho), U.S. Development Team member Senna Leith (Vail, Colo.), Hagen Kearney (Norwood, Colo.), veteran Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, Mich.) and Jonathan Cheever (Saugus, Mass.) are set to compete.
In 2018, Dierdorff and Holland claimed the top two spots on the podium to close out the season in Veysonnaz. With the men looking to repeat a solid performance from 2018 and Jacobellis vying for the Crystal Globe, It’s safe to say expectations are high for the 2019 Veysonnaz World Cup.
It’s been an excellent season for the U.S. Snowboardcross Team collecting two FIS World Championships titles and multiple FIS World Cup top-ten finishes. U.S. riders will look to close out the season with the potential to capture the FIS Snowboardcross World Cup titles as well as add to their podium count. Catch the action live and head out to Veysonnaz, Switzerland, or tune in on NBC.
CUP STANDINGS
Men’s snowboardcross
Women’s snowboardcross
HOW TO WATCH
Subject to change
All times EST
Saturday, March 16.
9:15 a.m. - FIS Snowboarding World Cup - Veysonnaz, Switzerland - NBC Sports Gold
