Red Bull.com

Benny Karl, from St Pölten, Austria, is a leading alpine snowboarder, and an eight-time FIS World Cup event winner.

Benny made his World Cup tour debut in 2004 in snowboardcross, but that was his first and last race in that category before he switched to parallel giant slalom. Now, he's the 2010 reigning parallel giant slalom and overall FIS World Champion. He finished first in the overall World Cup standings also in 2008 and came a close second behind fellow Austrian - and good friend Siegfried Grabner - in 2009, though that season was hampered by an ankle injury.

It seems that even injuries can’t stop the gifted competitor, however, who now lives in East Tyrol, from winning sensational victories. After breaking three thoracic vertebrae he finally won the regional cup the same year and a broken ankle didn't stop him claiming the parallel slalom World Champion title six weeks later.

Benny has claimed 18 podiums from 55 FIS World Cup starts and most recently stormed to success in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, securing a silver medal in the Parallel Giant Slalom quickly folliowed by a second silver in Moscow.

See his official website at www.benjamin-karl.com or visit Benny’s Facebook page