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Dasha Nr.1 World Cup Ranking

Airflow teamrider Dasha Kornienko (CAN) wins the womens IGSA World Cup Series 2009. 2nd place goes to Rebekka Gemperle (SUI), World Champion Brianne Davies (CAN) places 3rd. Airflow's proud and congratulates all three girls for pushing their limits!
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After spending her entire summer travelling and racing all over Europe, skating mountain passes and living in Switzerland, and going on a trip to the very southern tip of Africa Dasha’s brought it: 2009 Women’s World Cup Series Champion!
 
Let's have a little backflash of the past summer...
(Words by Ramón Königshausen)
 
Houyet, Belguim
May 30th Dasha arrived in Zurich Switzerland. After her first slalom race in Prague, Czech Republic, downhill skateboarding started off with a Freeride in Houyet, Belgium.
 
 
This was when Dasha switched from an Evo to topmount. The two of us were given a prototype foamcore Speedwing “39 made by our sponsor Airflow Skateboard to test out. After getting used to the higher stance, it didn’t take long and we discovered the benefits of a topmounted board. Along with Mike River and the crew from the UK as well as the guys from Stuttgart Germany – the Houyet Freeride definitely was a chilled start of the season to test out gear, enjoy tons of runs with friends and get ready for racing. 
Check out the Video. Mike River (CULT Wheels) followed Dasha and Uta down the track!

 

 

At the top of a hill just 15mins from where I live: Me, Brian Holden, Dasha, Patrick Switzer, Louis Pilloni, James Kelly
 
As July came, the racing season wasn’t far either. Our road trip started from Switzerland to Peyragudes in south-eastern Spain with Sebastian Hertler and Jakob Raab from Stuttgart, Germany. A quick stop over at the Marseilles bowl on the way and they arrived at the first event  located near a skiing resort in the Pyrenean mountains.
 
Sebastian's VW van - classy
 
 
Peyragudes, France
Peyragudes (F) was supposed to be one of the fastest tracks on the European circuit. At top speeds of 90km/h (55mph) the racers had to go over consistently changing pavement, bumps, around sweepers and master 5 hairpins.
 
 
 
The winner of the Women’s category was determined by a point system (most of the races do like this). 3 runs mass-heat, winner gets 1pt, second gets 2pts etc.
The key at Peyragudes was to make the best out of the tight start area and down to the first hard lefthander. In their first run Bettina Luginbühl (SUI) managed to win the heat leaving behind Dasha, Rebekka Gemperle (SUI), Kristina Engstrand (SWE) and Verena Völkel (GER). In the second heat Dasha made a pass just around the sweeper that lead into the high speed part. Bettina passed her again in the hairpins section but coming out of it Dasha had more exit speed and was able to pass Bettina again and held her lead all the way to the finish line.
 
First left hand harpin
Surviving a crash fest: Dasha and James
 
The third round would be the tiebreaker. Everybody was watching in excitement from the top of the hill where they could overlook the entire course. Who would make the race? Two-time world champion Bettina Luginbühl or Dasha Kornienko? Kristina and Rebekka were full on as well…But it was Bettina who took it. Followed by Dasha in second, Rebekka third, Kristina fourth and Verena fifth.
 
This was the first IGSA podium for Dasha, congratulations!

Graveyard Call, Argonay, France
Shortly after Peyragudes everybody was making their trip to Argonay (F) to compete at the “Graveyard Call”. Dasha was road tripping with the Norwegians – also known as “Team Red Wine”.
 
 
Dasha, Kristina and Torbjørn of Team Red Wine.
 
The top part of the race track known as D173 is used by the locals as a practise hill. It’s a narrow road through the forest ending in the town of Argonay. For the race the bottom part was closed as well which made it really challenging course. The last hairpin passing by a graveyard gave this event its name.
 
 
This time Dasha couldn’t it into the finals. Rebekka and Bettina battled out the finals with Bettina taking her 2nd victory in a row. Unfortunately they both crashed and injured themselves slightly. Dasha took 4th to Kristina who finished 3rd.
 
  
Nobody can deny that crashing isn't part of the deal sometimes....
 
Teolo, Italy
Teolo was hot! Thanks to Dasha and my sister I had gotten a super short haircut. Shortly after our arrival many were inspired by my advantage against the heat. So Adam Yates declared himself a Figaro cutting several skaters’ hair. The Italians had a great hospitality, they fed us, served you with sports drinks at the finish line and at night there was always a cool show going on.
 
 
It was in the land of pasta, pizza and power slides (?) that Dasha would make her first IGSA victory. Second was Karin Feldbaum, third Uta Hang, both from Stuttgart, Germany.
 
Papeedeepoopee!
 
 
 
A Victorious Team: Ramón (7th), Martin (1st) and Dasha (1st)
 
 
After the race in Teolo we returned to Switzerland for a couple of days. By the middle of the week we got company by the Orangatang guys (Patrick, Louis, James, Jackson), Sebastian and Jakob, Brian from Colorado and Leeso from Oz, who had already come with us.  A big BBQ was held after a chilled day of skating down to the Lake, swimming and relaxing.
 
 
Law enforcement? – I don't think so!
 
Unfortunately Dasha and I didn’t manage to organize a car to go to any of the races either the Slalom European Championship in Czech Republic nor the Longboard Jam in Austria. So we stayed home in Switzerland. Samy Cantieni was kind enough to let us borrow his Toyota Landcruiser for local trips. Well, I must say Stelvio Pass isn’t a bad option, is it? 
 
At the top of world famous Stelvio Pass
 
 
Samy's Landcruiser!
 
Kozakov, Czech Republic
After the “weekend off” we got a ride to Kozakov along with Christoph Haller and Rebekka. The land of awesome cheap beer provided us with an equally awesome racetrack: top speeds up to 95km/h (60mph), 3 hairpins, two high speed sweepers and butter smooth pavement.
 
 
Dasha qualified 3 seconds ahead of Kristina, followed by Rebekka, Verena and Sophie Friedel (her DH debut). This time the racing format was supposed to be different since starter Eimer had a different system in mind. By the end the last run would count. This caused some difficulties along with the race directors trying to exclude Dasha from racing in the Open category. Fortunately by the end Dasha was able to make the best out of the situation and win the European Championship.
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Double-DK: Dominik Kowalski and Dasha Kornienko
 
As if one event per weekend wasn’t enough we travelled 7hrs through Saturday night just to make it back in time for the Burning Wheels Tour Skateboarder-Cross race locatedin Lucerne, Switzerland. Along with Dasha there were two more Canadians shredding the BX course. Patrick Switzer (ON) and Ross Baradoy (AB). Check out Partick’s video.
 

 

 

 

Eastbourne wasn’t on Dasha’s schedule until Mike River from CULT wheels managed to convince her to fly over to the UK. On day one from 129 stand up riders Dasha qualified 22nd in Open. The second day many improved. So did Dasha. But due to tailwind people with an OK tuck were able to get past her in qualifying. Nevertheless Dasha ruled in the Women’s category and brought home another victory!
 
   
 
 
In September Dasha visited her family in Ukraine. I went there for 10 days and we tried to spread the stoke on skateboarding. Check out the article here: 
 
       
Slalom in Kiev, Ukraine    
 
On October 17 the award ceremony for the Swiss Skateboard Series “Burning Wheels Tour” took place in Zurich. The best skaters in all disciplines (Slalom, DH, Boardercross, Push-race) were awarded.  Dasha having participated in 3 out of 6 events (Boardercross, Gioasteka free ride, Over 80 Cones Slalom) finished 3rd overall. Congratulations!
 
 
Mid November Dasha left good old Europe to return back to Canada. But not for long. Just before she took off to last World Cup of the season in South Africa, Dasha broke her personal speed record. Up in the north of Ontario Dasha hit 98.9km/h (61.45mph) on her Airflow foam core Speedwing “39, GOG BigBrothers and CULT wheels. Like that she’s only a click away to join the century club. Go get it!
 
 
At the Giòasteka Freeride at San Bernardino Pass, Switzerland.
 
I guess it’s a waste of characters to say that I’m jealous but I just did. Anyway, Dasha’s still in South Africa.
One week prior to the big showdown at Kogelberg there was the South African Nationals at “Howteq”. Check out the Video Dasha put online:
 
 
 
 
Hot Heels South Africa – This is where Dasha and Rebekka would have battled it out. Rebekka had gone to the World Championships in Australia and broken her wrist. Although she did qualifying with her broken wrist she decided not to risk any further injury in a race. Per se Dasha was awarded winner of the race and therefore 2009 Women’s World Cup Series Champion!
 
CONGRATULATIONS DASHA!