First race and first podium for Italy in the Snowboard Cross World Cup. This happened on the Argentinian piste of Cerro Catredal, where the incredible Emanuel Perathoner took a fantastic second place in the big final, beaten only by Australia’s Alex Pullin.

The thirty-one-year-old Esercito member from South Tyrol, whose best result so far was a third place in Veysonnaz in 2012, should not even have taken part in the knockout stage because he did not make the cut in Friday’s qualifiers. However, the panel of judges changed its decision, letting in 48 athletes rather than 32. Perathoner benefitted from this change, with a great performance that will be remembered for a long time. Completing the podium was Jonathan Cheever, whilst Tommaso Leoni finished ninth, placing third in the small final after being eliminated in the semi-finals. Luca Matteotti and Omar Visintin went out in the quarter-finals, and Michele Godino and Lorenzo Sommariva went out in the last 16; the latter cracked a rib and will not compete in the second round scheduled for Sunday 10 September. 

The winner of the women’s race was France’s Chloe Trespeuch, ahead of USA’s Lindsey Jacobellis and the other transalpine athlete Nelly Moenne Loccoz. Michela Moioli went out in the quarter final, stopping almost immediately after starting after catching an edge. Raffaella Brutto did not even start after falling during the warm-up and dropping out as a precaution; however, she should start properly in the second race scheduled for Sunday.