21 December 2006 - 20:48 Krings climbs to top of Snowboard WC, Schoch climbs to WC lead Second PSL - World Cup in Bad Gastein, Austria

Austria's Doresia Krings claimed the lead in the World Cup standings, winning the parallel slalom on home-snow in Bad Gastein on Thursday.

Krings, who finished second in the previous day's parallel slalom, edged out compatriot Heidi Neururer in the all-Austrian final.

Austria's Doresia Krings takes a curve during the final heat of the parallel giant slalom race at the Snowboard World Cup in Bad Gastein, Austria December 21, 2006.REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA)

"This is incredible," the 29-year-old Krings said. "I got my new board just three days ago and did not expect to get used to it so soon."

France's Julie Pomagalski claimed third from Russian Svetlana Boldikova in the small final.

Krings, who won bronze medals in the parallel slalom and the parallel GS at the 2005 world championships, leads the overall standings on 2,860 points, with Neururer in second at 380 points behind.

Austria's Doresia Krings celebrates after winning the parallel giant slalom race at the Snowboard World Cup in Bad Gastein, Austria, December 21, 2006. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA)

Austria's Marion Kreiner, who finished 14th on Friday, relinquished her World Cup lead and is now third with 2,390 points.

Jeremy Stahl
Eurosport.com - 22/12/2006

Schoch climbs to WC lead

Olympic silver medallist Simon Schoch claimed sole possession of the overall World Cup standings, winning the second of two parallel slalom contests at Bad Gastein, Austria on Thursday.

Switzerland's Simon Schoch takes a curve during the final heat of the parallel giant slalom race at the Snowboard World Cup in Bad Gastein, Austria December 21, 2006. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler (AUSTRIA)

The Swiss snowboarder, who finished second in the previous day's parallel slalom behind World Cup rival Siegfried Grabner, won from compatriot Roland Haldi and Canadian Jasey Jay Anderson.

Schoch now leads the overall standings on 4,200 points, 600 more than Grabner and 1350 more than Slovenia's Rok Flander in third.

Austria's Grabner could only finish sixth in Friday's race.

Anderson, meanwhile, said he would put off thoughts of retirement after collecting his first World Cup podium finish of the season and the 49th of his career.

"Today was a key moment in my career," the 31-year-old Anderson told Canadian news agency CP.

"It was a pretty meaningful third because I gave myself the goal of a top four before the (world championship) or I would retire at the end of the season."

Jeremy Stahl
Eurosport.com - 22/12/2006