site.btaMalena Zamfirova after Finishing 36th in Parallel Giant Slalom: It Is Very Pleasant to Ride against World's Best

Young Bulgarian hope in women's snowboarding Malena Zamfirova finished 36th in the parallel giant slalom qualifications in Bansko on Sunday. That was her debut in the FIS Snowboard World Cup. The 15-year-old Zamfirova, who is the younger sister of the men's fourth-placed Tervel Zamfirov, told BTA that it felt very nice to stand for the first time against the world's best female alpine snowboarders, but she herself assessed that she could not yet measure up to them. 

Zamfirova added that the two starts in Bansko this weekend were a kind of training for her in order to gain more experience. "I could have done much better. The race was very good, the course was very well prepared, but I was hoping for a better ride. I think I need more practice on ice because the track was very hard. I didn't expect it to be that hard, but for World Cup level athletes the terrain was great," commented the young Sofia skier.

"I'm still happy that I made it to the bottom, and I hope to do better on Sunday. It's very nice to ride with the best in the world. I wouldn't say I'm their competition, but seeing them ride is a great help. For me this World Cup is like a training session. I'm 15 years old and it's not World Cup time for me yet. Now I have two European Cups coming up on Tuesday and Wednesday in Bansko and the World Junior Championships. I hope that by the end of the season, I will be able to go to another European Cup," explained Zamfirova.

"My goals for now are focused on the European Cup. I'm entering finals, but I want to win podiums as well," she added when asked what her ambitions are for the foreseeable future.