While the Americans didn’t have any real success in the traditional events at the ICF Slalom World Cup event in Ivrea, Italy Richard Powell did grab a bronze in a new event. Powell won the bronze in the K1 cross event, a competition where competitors race head to head instead of competing on time. Powell’s competition started off with a seventh place finish among the 15 who competed in the time trial to seed the field for the main event. Powell’s time of 40.40 was 3.77 behind the top time. Fellow American Tyler Westfall was right behind Powell in eighth in 40.88.

In the quarterfinals where the top two in each heat would advance Westfall caught the break of being in a heat with just three but finished third of those three and was eliminated. Powell also caught a break as only three started his heat and one of those three was disqualified. Powell still won his heat to advance to the semifinals. Powell came in second in his semifinal to become one of the four finalists and then came in third in the final to win the bronze medal.

Earlier in the day Powell finished 30th in the semifinals of the men’s K1 event. Powell had just two penalties but his total of 97.75 was over six behind the ten final qualifiers. Also competing in the semifinals was Zachary Lokken in the men’s C1. Lokken finished 29th after picking up a 50 point penalty and finishing with a 164.65 score.

The next ICF Slalom World Cup event will be in La Seu d’Urgell, Spain next weekend from the 10th through the 12th.

Previous ICF Slalom World Cup Coverage:
Ivrea Preview
Friday Update