World Cup News

Mischo Wins Rock & Roll

Thalgau, Austria - Canadian Mischo Erban (Team Landyachtz) won the Rock and Roll World Cup in dominant fashion today leaving his three rivals to fight it out for second.

Jackson Shapiero (Hopkin Racing) from Sydney, Australia finished in second place to show he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Patrick Rizzo (Sector 9 Racing) from Oakland, California was third. Reigning IGSA World Cup Series Champion Erik Lundberg (Sector 9/Quicksilver/Kahalni) surprisingly had nothing for his rivals in the final and wound up fourth.

Downhill skaters take a freeride run between heats. Photo Sven Von Schlachta

Douglas Silva (Team Landyachtz) from Brazil won the consolation final to earn fifth. It was a bittersweet victory for Silva who was taken out from behind in his Semi-Final heat. In the Semi's Silva was sitting in third position and using the draft as they approached the final straight. Just as he began to make his move to the front, former World Cup Series Champion Fredrik Lindstrom hit him from behind. Both riders went down hard at more than 100kph allowing Rizzo and Shapiera to go on to the Finals. In the other Semi-Final, Lundberg beat Erban to the line with South African Mike Zietsman coming home third and Canadian Nathan Lang finishing fourth.

A super stoked Brianne Davies (CAN) after winning her 3rd straight World Cup race.
Photo Marcus Rietema

In Women's Downhill Skateboarding, Brianne Davies (CAN) made it three for three in World Cup competition.  Her close friend Chiara Poscente and reigning World Champion Jolanda Vogler (SUI) gave her some competition this time around, but in the end Davies was just too strong. Later in the day Davies raced in the Open class where she qualified in 33rd position amongst the men. In the race she made it to the second round and was credited with 30th position in the final standings.

 

Mischo Erban (CAN) completely dominated the final. Photo Sven Von Schlachta

This set up the final with Erban, Lundberg, Rizzo and Shapiera. After some controversial starts at the last World Cup in Jungholz, the IGSA decided to use their "Shock cord" start method. A simple elastic cord is stretched across the road and when the cord is released, it shoots across the road signaling the riders to go. Lundberg pushed hard off the line with Shapiera in second, Rizzo third and Erban trailing far behind in fourth. Erban seemed content to just let the other three lead down to the first hairpin and waited. As they made their way through the corner, Erban took a superior line and came rocketing out of the corner. He sailed past the other three riders as if he had a motor and left them in the dust. At the finish he had about a 20-length lead over the others. Lundberg, Rizzo and Shapiera battled it out amongst themselves all the way to the finish. Shapiera beat his rivals for second with Rizzo third. Lundberg didn't have an answer for the others as he came home trailing in fourth.

Wagner (SUI), Eliot (GBR) and Labarthe (SUI) battling in Street Luge. Photo Sven Von Schlachta

In Street Luge it was all about Leander Lacey (RSA). Leander dominated all of his heats and scored a dominant victory. In fact Lacey won the Final twice when the heat had to be rerun due to a malfunction with the "Shock Cord" at the start line after it became entangled in Olivier Wagner's luge. Yvon Labarthe (SUI) finished second with an injured Pete Eliot (GBR) coming home in third. Eliot hurt his ankle earlier in the day when he made contact with the straw bales and could barely walk. Determined not to let it stop him, he wrapped his ankle in duct tape and raced on. Olivier Wagner finished fourth. In the Consolation it was Loic Zaccaro (FRA) winning the heat and finishing fifth.

Street Luge Podium. L-R: Yvon Labarte (SUI), Leander Lacey (RSA), Pete Eliot (GBR)
Photo Marcus Rietema

The Classic Luge final was filled with controversy. Reigning World Cup Series Champion Michael Serek (AUT) was in the lead as they came to the top of the final straight. Leander Lacy was in his draft and making a move on the outside. Serek appeared to take a different line drifting wide. This pushed Lacey even further to the outside and close to the bales. It appeared to race officials that once Serek saw Leander was there, he threw out his inside leg in an effort to move over and avoid contact. There was brief contact and along with being pushed to the outside, it was enough to keep Lacey from making the pass. Serek won the race with Lacey in second. Afterward, Lacey protested. Race officials interviewed both riders extensively and viewed three separate videos of the incident. After many hours of deliberation, they decided to let the final results stand. Konstantin Weigl (AUT) finished in third and Jochen Baumann (GER) was fourth.