BAKURIANI, Georgia -- Canada's Eliot Grondin continued his strong season with his first career World Cup snowboard cross victory on Thursday.
The 19-year-old from Sainte-Marie, Que., who captured bronze at the world championships last month in Sweden, beat out Lukas Pachner of Austria and Lorenzo Sommariva of Italy at a first-time World Cup course.
Grondin is now just eight points behind Alessandro Haemmerle of Austria in the race for the season title.
Kevin Hill of Vernon, B.C., was 28th, Liam Moffatt of Truro, N.S., was 29th and Evan Bichon of Prince George, B.C., was 44th on Thursday.
Eva Samkova of the Czech Republic won the women's race.
Zoe Bergermann of North Vancouver, B.C., was 10th, Audrey McManamin of Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Que., was 16th, Meryeta O'Dine of Prince George, B.C., was 17th, Carle Brenneman of Comox, B.C., was 18th and Haili Moyer of King City, Ont., was 27th.
A second event at the same venue goes on Friday.
