Kummer and Karl win parallel slalom in Carezza

Patrizia Kummer (SUI) and Benjamin Karl (AUT) have won the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup's last race in 2011, which took place in Carezza, Italy, today. In the women's final of the second parallel slalom, which was flagged out with 29 gates on the Pra di Tori slope, the Swiss rider beat Isabella Laboeck (GER) thus earning her career's second World Cup win. In the battle for third, Anke Karstens (GER) crossed the finish line ahead of Julia Dujmovits (AUT).

On the men's side, it was Benjamin Karl carving to his career's 14th win while facing slight snow fall. Simon Schoch (SUI) came in, closely beaten, as second. Siegfried Grabner (AUT) rounded out the podium as third after he had edged off Jernej Demsar (SLO) to fourth in the small finals.

While on the men's side, all three top guns have had several podium results so far (Karl 25, Schoch 26 and Grabner 32), the ladies haven't been so used to it so far.

It was the second podium appearance for Kummer, who, in fact, did win both times. According to this, the Swiss rider was pretty stoked with her outcome: "I know that I'm fast in the parallel slalom. I didn't felt good in the qualifiers but still was quite fast. In the finals, it turned out to get better and better with every single run."

But although she was getting more and more into race mood, kicking out Amelie Kober (GER), World Cup leader Fraenzi Maegert-Kohli (SUI) and Karstens, she still had some little doubts: "I was quite nervous and was thinking too much. I had to focus a lot to avoid any stupid mistakes. It was a great race. It's awesome to win the last race before Christmas. The shopping in the US was worth it."

Although beaten by the Swiss racer, whoms biggest triumph so far has been a Bronze medal the 2009 Worlds, the two German race board ladies Laboeck and Karstens were both all smiles, no wonder, as it has been ten years since two German ladies made it on a shared podium.

According to this and her runner-up finish, she was waiting for quite long, Laboeck said: "Finally! Yesterday I kind of had a crisis of meaning. And today brings such a result. This is just massive! I'm stoked to be on the podium."

Karl again Charlemagne

On the men's side, it was once again Benjamin Karl taking all the price check and glory home. However, the 2010 Olympic Silver medalist had to survive a moment of shock in his eighth final against Matthew Morison, when the winner of Telluride went down.

"I was going a different line and my coaches said right away I should stick with what I'm good in. And i did," he said. However, he also took advantage by several mistakes of his rival. Nevertheless, the Austrian who looks forward to his home turf race in the Wachau January 13th was back to business thereafter claiming his 14th World Cup win in the end.

"It's the nicest Christmas present you can dream of. Now it's time to go home with my wife and celebrate. It couldn't be any better. I'm really happy!"

And although he was beaten by only 2 tenth in the finals, also Simon Schoch was pretty OK with the result: "In the main, the joy outweighs. I just made it into the finals being the 16th fastest qualifier. However, I did get into it better. According to this, I'm pretty pleased."

The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup will continue after the Christmas break. On January 13th, the season's third parallel slalom is scheduled at Jauerling, Austria.