Squamish's Tom Velisek posted his second-best World Cup snowboard cross result this season last week, finishing in 12th place in Valmelenco, Italy.
Despite unpredictable weather conditions, which saw the course battered with rain, snow, wind and snow at different times, Velisek managed to pull it all together and gut out some key race wins on Friday (March 18).
"These conditions made it very interesting as everyday/run speed and snow was changing," he told The Chief in an email. "For instance, I was sitting inseventh after my second time trial run and the course just got faster and faster as the rest of the riders came down, so I got bumped all the way to 31st for qualifications."
Poor qualifying races aside, Velisek stepped his game up when it counted.
"In the race I was able to battle back after losing the lead and squeak by to the next round," he said. "In the next round I again got the lead and was passed from the others drafting me, but unfortunately was unable to make it up and was out in the second round to finish 12th."
Velisek was humble in defeat, noting that a lack of aggressiveness ended up costing him.
"I made a big mistake by not staying aggressive and thus getting passed," he said. "Story of my life, but in the end all is well that ends well and you can still walk."
Italy's Alberto Schiavon won the event, with Americans Jonathon Cheever and Nate Holland placing second and third, respectively. The top Canadian was Vernon's Kevin Hill, who placed fifth.
The next stop for Velisek will be Arosa, Switzerland, which will host the last two World Cup events of the season. Arosa will be the venue for an additional race in place of the Korean race, which was cancelled back in February because of poor weather conditions. Arosa has been kind to Velisek over his career, as he finished fifth there in 2004 and eighth in 2008.
For more information on Velisek and the Canadian snowboard team, visit www.canadasnowboard.ca.
