Switzer gets the Hat Trick!
Patrick Switzer Celebrates his third World Cup Victory in a row. Photo Barbara Britvin
Teolo, Italy- Patrick Switzer made histroy today when he became the first skater to ever win three Open Downhill Skateboarding World Cup races in a row. Switzer started from the number one position after earning the top spot in qualifying.
He sailed through the first round of the 64 man bracket. As the riders were preparing for the second run a brief, ten minute downpour came through and soaked the track.
The track had been repaved about three months ago and been slick all weekend. With the addition of water it became like ice. In the subsequent heats, the riders were sliding and crashing all over the place. Some of the top riders including number two qualifier Ramon Konigshausen were eliminated before the Semi-Finals.Echegaray Wins In Street Luge
Spaniard Mikel Echegaray has won the Street Luge race at todays Padova Grand Prix in Teolo, Italy. Echegaray got the hole shot off the line and never relinquished the lead. Pole sitter Will Stephenson and number two qualifier Abdil Mahdzan went into the first corner side by side. Mahdzan was able to pull clear of Stephenson on the exit and take off in pursuit of Echegaray. Mahdzan gained ground on Echegaray the whole way down the course but couldn't find a way around him. At the finish it was Echegaray earning the win, Mahdzan who hails from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in second and Will Stephanson from Great Britain in third. Cedric Robert from Switzerland finished fourth.
The Consolation Final was won by Michael Muller from Austria. Yvonne Labarthe was second, Peter Eliot third and Russel Naude from South Africa was fourth.