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Bankes takes Crystal Globe to cap storming 21/22 season

Charlotte Bankes confirms her status as the world’s leading Snowboard Cross athlete with Crystal Globe

Charlotte Bankes, Britain’s World Champion Snowboard Cross racer, wrapped up the 21/22 Crystal Globe with victory at the Reiteralm World Cup this afternoon, giving her an unassailable lead in the season’s standings.

Competing in her first World Cup race since the disappointment of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games, Bankes showed her class at the first opportunity, qualifying for the Finals in first place before coming through the elimination stages to take her fourth victory and sixth podium in seven World Cup contests this season. Her victory today, to go alongside those recorded in Montafon in December, and in back-to-back World Cups in Krasnoyarsk in January, means that only the Cervinia World Cup in December has seen Bankes miss out on a podium spot.

Bankes’ victory, ahead of Italy’s Michaela Moioli and Audrey McManiman of Canada, confirmed that neither Moioli, nor Chloe Trespeuch of France can overhaul her at the head of the World Cup standings, securing her the first Crystal Globe of her career.

Speaking afterwards, Bankes said:

“The Crystal Globe has always been a dream for me but really didn’t know if I’d ever manage to get the consistency to be able to fight for it.

“With the start to the season I had, it became a goal and I’m just so happy and proud of what we’ve done as a team to achieve it certainly after the disappointment of the Olympics.

“Knowing I’ve secured the globe is amazing but I’ve still got a World Cup in Veysonnaz and I’m looking forward to another great battle with the girls to finish this amazing season.”

Header Image: Charlotte Bankes competing in the Schladming World Cup, March 2022 . Photo: GEPA pictures/ Harald Steiner