Switzerland’s Manuela Laura Pesko and Japanese rider Ryoh Aonoa have won the first halfpipe contest of the Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup’s new season in Cardrona, New Zealand.

2007 World Champion Pesko secured her triumph with a solid second run in the finals scoring 42.1 points and thus relegating so far leading Lindsey Jacobellis (USA,) to the second spot (41.7). Clair Bidez (USA, 39.7) rounded out the podium as third.

On the men’s side, Aono clinched his win with an outstanding first run (45.1). Iouri Podladtchikov, who so far was starting for Russia, finished second at his first appearance for Switzerland (43.2) being accompanied by his fellow countryman Rolf Feldmann (39.6).

After the first ever World Cup event ever in New Zealand, Manuela Laura Pesko was all smiles regarding her perfect kick-off of the season: “I wasn’t really convinced of my first run so I decided to alter my attitude for the second one focusing more on the personal fun riding a halfpipe. That worked out pretty well and I was riding like I normally do. I’m very pleased with the result especially because you never know where you stand in the beginning of a new season.”

Ryoh Aono had similar sentiments: “I didn’t expecting anything special of this World Cup Opener – especially due to the fact that it was pretty windy out there. But it paid off that I worked really hard to have a good preparation for the new winter. I will try to keep hold on my World Cup title.”

Ladies:
1. Manuela Laura Pesko (SUI)
2. Lindsey Jacobellis (USA)   
3. Clair Bidez (USA)     

Men:
1. Ryoh Aono (JPN)
2. Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI)
3. Rolf Feldmann (SUI)