06 December 2003

Superstar champ unstoppable
Half pipe snowboarder Lesley McKenna started her new 2004 Nokia FIS World Cup season in magnificent style, winning the first event last night in Tandadalen, Sweden.

The Aviemore rider repeated her outstanding victory she scored in Sapporo, Japan late last season when she became Britain's first ever snowboarder to win a World Cup. After qualifying in fourth place she used the same series of safe tricks as worked for her in Japan to win while the warm daytime temperatures resulted in challenging, icy conditions for the floodlit final.

Icy conditions
After days of mild temperatures, a hard overnight frost had left the half-pipe hard and icy, McKenna's courage and conviction stood her in good stead as she eclipsed Switzerland's Fabienne Reuteler to win. 'It was really quite windy during the final and between that and the icy conditions I think it was really putting some of the girls off, but I knew it was good for me and really just went for it'.

McKenna recently proved her outstanding fitness and athleticism by winning BBC TV's Superstars. 'I really feel very confident after a good summer doing so many different kinds of cross training. There is a long season ahead but this really just gives me the best possible start. I feel in great shape. It is fantastic to start to start with a win!'

Results Nokia FIS Snowboard World Cup
1 L McKenna (GBR) 1000 pts
2 F Reuteler (Sui) 800 pts
3 A Olofsson (Swe) 600pts
4 S Yamoka (Japan) 500pts
5 K Buaas (Nor) 450pts

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