VALMALENCO, Italy - Mike Robertson led a Canadian sweep of the first three positions in the men's snowboardcross qualification while Dominique Maltais took top spot in the women's qualification Thursday at the World Cup finals.
Robertson, of Canmore, Alta., finished first in one minute 2.31 seconds. Francois Boivin of Jonquiere, Que., was second in 1:02.58 and Robert Fagan of Cranbrook, B.C., was third in 1:02.60.
Four other Canadian men cracked the top 32 to advance to Friday's final snowboardcross race of the World Cup season.
Tom Velisek of Squamish, B.C., was 19th, Derek Wintermans of Burnaby, B.C., was tied for 20th, North Vancouver's Drew Neilson was 25th and Simon Bonenfant of Mont-Tremblant, Que., was 26th.
Ryan Hickey of North Bay, Ont., and Kevin Hill of Vernon, B.C., didn't qualify for the final. Hickey was 41st and Hill was 42nd.
Maltais, of Petite-Riviere Saint-Francois, Que., was first in the women's qualification in 1:08.03. American Lindsey Jacobellis was second in 1:08.04 and Maelle Ricker of Squamish, B.C., was third in 1:08.54.
Ziggy Cowan of Banff, Alta., was 19th and didn't qualify for the final.
The halfpipe events are scheduled for Saturday and the parallel giant slalom is set for Sunday.
