Ma毛lle Ricker is still easing back into snowboard cross competition but still managed two top-10 finishes at FIS World Cup events on Thursday (Jan. 19) and Sunday (Jan. 22).
The 麻豆社国产resident traveled to Veysonnaz, Switzerland for the pair of races, finishing fifth on both days.
"Today was a crazy day on the course," Ricker said of the Thursday race. "Of the 24 heats, only two went by without a crash. I rode more timidly than I would have liked, but was still able to make it through the rounds into the big final. I'm happy to be back on tour after taking most of last year off and I'm slowly getting a feel for racing again."
Just over a year ago Ricker broke several bones in her hand at a race in La Molina, Spain, and after last week's event, has three races under her belt since the injury.
Her teammate Dominique Maltais fared better, finishing third on Thursday and second on Saturday.
"It was a tough race against Lindsay [Jacobellis of the U.S.]," Maltais said of her second-place finish on Sunday. "I'm still a little disappointed because I was in the lead for a good part of the race. I lost my line halfway through and she got me there. After that I tried to take back the lead without success."
The Sunday event, which was also held in Veysonnaz, was a make-up event for a race in Bad Gastein, Austria, that was cancelled in December.
Next up for Ricker will be a trip to Blue Mountain in Ontario for a FIS snowboard cross event on Feb. 8.
For more information and full results, visit www.fissnowboard.com.
