Snowboard Germany starts the Christmas break with three podium finishes. Martin Nörl and Ramona Hofmeister raise hopes for the World Cup in February.
Cervinia/ Cortina d’Ampezzo (dpa/lby) – Two months before the World Championships in Georgia, the German snowboarders are still in top form. While boardercrosser Martin Nörl became a permanent guest on the World Cup podium after third and second place in Cervinia, Ramona Hofmeister celebrated for the first time this winter on Saturday. After sobering weeks in which the alpine snowboarder struggled with back problems, the Bischofswiesen native took second place in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
“That was so important today and feels like a win. I’m not at 100 percent with my back, but I just got into my racing mode well,” said Hofmeister, visibly relieved. “I was really scared before the first lap. But then I just enjoyed it and really wanted to step on the gas.”
Team colleague Nörl extended his lead in the overall World Cup with his third podium finish in the third race of the season. Especially at the start, the veteran has improved significantly this season. Nevertheless: there is often still a lack of liveliness to take the lead right from the start.
Nörl therefore wants to use the long break from racing until the end of January for athletic training. “But first of all, home to the family. Now I’m looking forward to Christmas,” said the 29-year-old. According to the results at the start of the season, the five-time World Cup winner is already one of Snowboard Germany’s biggest hopes for the World Championships.
