Jewell, Klug 7-8 in World Cup PGS

KREISCHBERG, Austria (Jan. 6) - U.S. Snowboarding's Tyler Jewell (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Chris Klug (Aspen, CO) led the way for U.S. athletes finishing seventh and eighth respectively in a World Cup parallel giant slalom in Kreischberg Tuesday

Siegfried Grabner of Austria won the men's competition, followed by Switzerland's Simon Schoch in second and Meinhard Erlacher of Italy in third.

“Jewell hit a hole. He had a lead, hit the hole and got behind and he couldn't make it up,” U.S. Snowboarding Alpine head Coach Steve Persons said. “It was about the only hole on the whole course. Other than that the snow was perfect today.”

Jewell was followed in eighth by teammate Klug (Aspen, CO), who won the first qualifying round.

“Klug actually won in the qualifier but didn't have such a good second run,” Persons said. “These finishes show that we are within striking distance. If we can get these guys qualifying in the top eight then they're going to be able to perform.”

In the women's race, Doris Guenther of Austria won, followed by Japan's Tomoka Takeuchi in second and Austrian Claudia Riegler in third.

Michelle Gorgone (Boston) also had trouble in the same spot as Jewell and was unable to make up the time in the end, finishing 13th.

“For Michelle, today her challenge was terrain. In the first run she hit the same hole [as Tyler] and went down,” Persons said. “She caught up with her opponent halfway down the course but lost a little on a steep pitch. But it was definitely a show of her speed. She's riding really well and fast.”

Teammate Erica Mueller (Steamboat Springs, CO) followed Gorgone in 22nd.

The riders remain in Kreischberg for a night parallel slalom event on Wednesday.

“Tomorrow is going to be good. The athletes have a little time off in the morning to relax and prepare before qualifications and the competition,” Persons said. “These guys are riding well and it's going to happen. We just have to keep our focus and keep working on things.”

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 LG SNOWBOARD FIS WORLD CUP
Kreischberg, Austria - Jan. 6, 2009
Parallel Giant Slalom

Men
1. Siegfried Grabner, Austria
2. Simon Schoch, Switzerland
3. Meinhard Erlacher, Italy
4. Heinz Inniger, Switzerland
5. Jasey Jay Anderson, Canada
-
7. Tyler Jewell, Steamboat Springs, CO
8. Chris Klug, Aspen, CO
19. Zac Kay, Mount Shasta, CA
22. Josh Wylie, Londonderry, VT
35. Adam Smith, Bend, OR
42. Ben Fairchild, Kirkland, WA

Women
1. Doris Guenther, Austria
2. Tomoka Takeuchi, Japan
3. Claudia Riegler, Austria
4. Johanna Shaw, Austria
5. Marion Kreiner, Austria
-
13. Michelle Gorgone, Boston
22. Erica Mueller, Steamboat Springs, CO
-
DQ Andi-Jo Stump, Wenatchee, WA