Czech star and veteran Fischnaller win at Cortina d’Ampezzo as Karl ends third.

Czech Republic winter sport star Ester Ledecká started her snowboard season with a comfortable women’s parallel giant slalom victory in the Italian resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo. Here is all you need to know:

The 25-year-old saw off Austrian Daniela Ulbing in the last 16 and Swiss Julie Zogg in the last eight before edging past German Ramona Hofmeister in the semi-finals to book a final spot against German Selina Joerg.

After Hofmeister defeated compatriot Cheyenne Loch for third, Ledecka coasted to victory over Joerg in the Big Final by 0.86s to claim the full 100 points on offer.

Italian Roland Fischnaller cruised through his last-16 clash, dug deep in the quarter-finals and held firm against Austrian Benjamin Karl to seal his Big Final spot.

Karl pipped Italian Mirko Felicetti to third spot, then veteran Fischnaller used all his champion’s experience to defeat compatriot Aaron March by 0.45s and secure the 100 points on offer in the season opener.

The parallel season stays in Italy with another giant slalom for the men and women as Carezza plays host to the only other race ahead of Christmas on December 17

Ester Ledecka poses for a portrait during a photo shooting in September, 2019

Photographer Credit:
Ondrej Pycha / Red Bull Content Pool

Titlepic: Ester Ledecka (CZE) seen at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Crans-Montana, Switzerland on February 23, 2020. // Erich Spiess/ASP/Red Bull Content Pool // SI202002240065