O’Dine back on World Cup podium
Meryeta O’Dine returned to the World Cup snowboard cross podium Sunday in Ezurum, Turkey.
The 20-year-old from Prince George combined with Zoe Bergermann of Erin, Ont., to finish third in the women’s team event, following up on their silver-medal finish as a team in Montafon, Austria, Dec. 17.
They finished second in the semifinal round Sunday to advance to the big final.
In Sunday’s big final, O’Dine and Bergermann were up against World Cup individual points leader Chloe Trespeuch of France and her teammate Nelly Moenne Loccoz, who went on to win gold. Vendula Hopjakova and Eva Samkova of the Czech Republic were the silver medalists. Italy (Francesca Gallina and Michela Moioli) finished fourth.
On Saturday, O’Dine finished sixth in the individual event. She was first and second in her two qualifying heats and third in the semifinals, finishing just behind Trespeuch and Samkova, who went on to claim silver and gold respectively in the big final. Moioli of Italy won the bronze medal. Thirty-two women were entered.
The team events do not count towards individual point standings. O’Dine ranks eighth in the world with 1,200 points, while Bergermann is 12th with 1,210. Trespeuch leads with 4,100.
In the men’s individual race Saturday, Kevin Hill was the top Canadian, finishing 26th out of 60 starters. Omar Visintin of France won gold, Pierre Vaultier of France took silver and Allessandro Haemmerle of Austria was the bronze medalist. Alex Pullin of Australia continues to lead the men’s standings with 3,346 points.
In the men’s team event, Italy won gold, Austria claimed silver and the United States took bronze.
The World Cup tour moves on to Bansko, Bulgaria for races on Friday. Feldberg, Germany will host the tour the following week, the final stop before the Olympics in Pyrongchang, South Korea.