NICK BAUMGARTNER

CERVINIA, Italy — Iron River’s Nick Baumgartner expected an “intense battle” in the World Cup snowboard cross opener.

It was just that.

Baumgartner finished eighth overall and runner-up in the small hill final Saturday.

The 37-year-old was the fifth-fastest qualifier prior to placing 34th on Friday.

“Another trip around the sun full of adventures and fun,” Baumgartner said on social media. “Getting older is about the experiences and the memories, not the hair loss or the aches and pains.”

Italian Emmanuel Perathoner, 32, captured his first career victory after a career of 88 World Cup races Saturday, Runner-up was 20-year-old Jake Vedder, first World Cup podium for the Pinckney, Mich., resident.

“My teammates were really encouraging me all day, and when I got to the bottom everyone just started tackling me,” said Vedder, 2018 junior world champion. “I couldn’t even believe what happened.”

Vedder and Baumgartner achieved their minimum U.S Ski & Snowboard World Championship Team criteria with their respective podium results.

The 2019 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships snowboardcross program commences Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at Utah’s Solitude Mountain Resort.