Russia claimed double gold courtesy of Elizaveta Salikhova and Dmitry Sarsembaev ©FIS/Twitter

Dmitry Sarsembaev and Elizaveta Salikhova claimed double Russian gold today as International Ski Federation (FIS) Snowboard Junior World Championship speed competition began with parallel giant slalom events at Rogla in Slovenia.

It followed the conclusion of technical events on Wednesday (March 30) in Seiser Alm in Italy.

Victory was particularly sweet for Salikhova in the women's competition as she had been forced to settle for bronze medals in both the parallel slalom and parallel giant slalom events at last year's Championships in the Chinese resort of Yabuli.

On this occasion she was too fast for Italy's Elisa Profanter, who improved from ninth last year to take silver.

Carolin Langenhorst of Germany claimed the bronze medal.

Snowboarders competing in the parallel giant slalom event in Rogla ©FIS/Twitter
Snowboarders competing in the parallel giant slalom event in Rogla ©FIS/Twitter

In the men's event, Russia was even more dominant last year as Sarsembaev won the gold medal ahead of team-mate Dmitriy Karlagachev in a Russian 1-2.

Sarsembaev, winner of January's Europa Cup leg in Stara Planina, also improved on a bronze medal in this event at last year's World Championships.

Gabriel Messner continued a successful day for Italy, taking the bronze medal.

Both male and female parallel slalom events are scheduled for tomorrow.