SBX Training at Copper April 1st & 2nd
Proving once again that Copper Mt., Colorado is one of the most Boardercross friendly mountains in the Nation, organizer Paul Krahulec reports on what his mountain has to offer SBX athletes who are preparing for this year’s 2010 US Nationals at Copper Mountain.
We will once again have the Boardercross course fully staffed and ready for pre-nationals training on April 1st & 2nd, 2010
There will be NO ONSITE REGISTRATION for the training sessions, you MUST REGISTER ONLINE. Space is limited, we sold out the sessions last year, so register early to avoid disappointment
A full day lift ticket is included in the training session so you can get right on the hill after checking in (mandatory check in required at the Event Registration Office)
A training bib will be required to gain access to the course just like last year and will be available for pickup along with your lift ticket the morning of the training session at the Event Registration Office, located on the lower level of Copper One directly adjacent to the main ticket windows.
Training bibs must be turned in after the session.
Coaches must have a valid & current USASA credential in order to gain access to the venue. Certified USASA Coaches participating in the training sessions will be provided with daily comp lift tickets. Helmets are required to be worn by all coaches.
The boardercross course is located on Vein Glory riders left of the Catalyst Terrain Park. Lift access via the American Flyer or High Point lifts.
Schedule
8:30 am – 9:30 am Bib Pick Up
9:00 am Lifts Open
10:00 am – 11:00 am Inspection
11:00 am – 2:00 pm TrainingIf you have any questions or concerns please contact Paul Krahulec at paul@usasa.org or by telephone at 970-968-2318 xt 45707
Rebecca Holland Reflects on Her Son’s Olympic Journey
SBX Fans… We arrived back home Thursday night from Vancouver. This experience was a most remarkable honor & privilege!
Don & Rebecca Holland Proudly Look On as Their Son Competes in the Final Heat of the 2010 Olympic Games
Facts… Nate advanced thru the heats to Finals, where it was all on-the-line for the Medals. Nate had a great start, holding the 2nd spot .. but as he set-up for a pass on Mike Robinson (CAN), he hit a rut that spun him out which allowed Wescott and the young Frenchman to pass. This same turn took out other top World Cup riders like Fagan, Pullin & Xavier De La Rue. SBX can be brutal with no 2nd chances like many sports .. not another quarter or hole or chance to make-up a deficit. Nate finished fourth.
Nate Holland's Parents and Girlfriend Show Their Support
Tremendous racing skills on Seth’s part to catch Mike for the win + Nate was genuinely excited for Seth’s achievement. They have worked and trained so hard together and they share in each others victories. Nate was most gracious in accepting the results… he’s a very honorable athlete.
I meet Mrs. Robinson last year and saw her following the races. Like Nate, Mike comes from simple means, but a family base that’s solid. It was a well deserved silver for a young athlete that made Canada so proud!!
I think no one there topped Nate’s family & good friends in attendance, hailing from as far away as Ohio & Texas. We were ringing our bells, waving flags & USA banners. The kids’ faces were painted with stars & stripes. His best buddies dressed in H.O.L.L.A.N.D. jerseys to show their pride. All of us are full of love & enthusiasm for Nate. No doubt we knew we were backing an exceptionally fine man who never forgets to acknowledge his roots. As his Mom, this day was one of the proudest moments in my whole life!
Friends, Fans & Family Showing the Love for Their Favorite Racer
That evening at an Italian restaurant, ALL of us again gathered to celebrate the day! Don offered a wonderful tribute to Nate’s extraordinary efforts back on Cypress + his good buddy JP started a cheer of “he’s a jolly good fellow”. Of course, Nate entertained us all with his take on the races.
USSA story carries several of his quotes: http://www.ussnowboarding.com/news?storyId=2518
I thank you all for sharing this special journey with me .. Oly’momma
US Dominates the Podium in Halfpipe
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
White Repeats Halfpipe Gold
CYPRESS MOUNTAIN (Feb. 17) – Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA) had already secured his second straight Olympic gold medal, but that didn’t stop him from stomping one last epic run for the fans Wednesday night in the Cypress Mountain halfpipe – including his patented Double McTwist 1260. U.S. teammate Scott Lago (Seabrook, NH) took home the bronze.
“That was the best victory run of my life,” White said. “On this world stage, why not deliver something spectacular? I feel like I came all the way to Canada, I talked about this trick so much, (poured) blood sweat and tears to land it, and there it was.”
Owner of two golds at just 23 years old, White said he was torn between a conservative run and his full bag of tricks, and changed his mind “probably 20 times” between the wax room and the top of the pipe. His choice was immediately obvious, as he soared to unimaginable heights off the 22-foot halfpipe wall and stuck his toughest tricks on a daring, stylish victory lap
“I can’t even describe it,” White said. “It’s one of those things where I can’t even tell you or begin to describe how many times I’ve gone over this run in my mind, gone over this competition in my head, imagined what it would be like … I can finally go to sleep now.”
White said he missed three straight attempts at a Double McTwist 1260 before the Games and decided he had to leave the pipe to preserve his positive vibrations. Somehow, on Wednesday, he managed to pull the stunt off at half speed and without a moment to spare before the finish.
“It was everything I had dreamed of,” White said after his astronomical score of 48.4. “Honestly, the dreams I’ve had matched this.”
Finland’s Peetu Piiroinen won silver with a 45.0 but came up well short of White’s first-round score, a 46.8 after a clean run with two consecutive double corks.
Lago, who did not earn a spot on the Team until his qualification in the final Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix, fell in the finale but was dialed on a bronze-winning first run.
“It means the world,” Lago said. “This year’s been the most competitive year in snowboarding ever to go down, and super progressive. Coming into it, we all had our work cut out just in making the U.S. Team.
“It didn’t really feel that tangible to be honest. I knew I could do it, and I was confident in my runs, but it’s like, ‘Olympic medal? Come on, really?’
“But I did it.”
All four U.S. team members reached the finals, with Louie Vito (Sandy, UT) placing fifth and Greg Bretz (Mammoth Lakes, CA) falling twice to 12th.
“I’m stoked for Shaun and Scotty,” Vito said. “I wish I would have been up there, but it is what it is. I’ll just get ready for the next one. I’m young, and I’ll be ready to go.”
The U.S. has won 12 of 21 halfpipe medals in the sport’s four Olympics appearances. White is the third U.S. male to defend an Olympic gold, joining figure skater Dick Button (1948 and 1952) and speed skater Shani Davis (who replicated his long track title Wednesday).
“Riding with Shaun, he’s just an amazing guy,” Bretz said. “He’s got cat-like reflexes, always lands on his feet. I’m honored to be on the same team as him.”
Despite a number of falls, athletes reported that halfpipe conditions were impeccable following a week’s worth of bad weather, and they were not unappreciative of the effort put in by organizers and course workers.
“The pipe was sick,” Vito said. “They did a great job maintaining it. Considering every curveball this grew got, they put together a really good pipe and they had a really good contest because of it.”
The U.S. women will try to improve that incredible U.S. Olympic Team record when they take to the pipe for qualifications beginning at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, with a final slated for 4 p.m.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2010 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES
Cypress Mountain, BC – Feb. 17
Men’s Halfpipe
Gold – Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 48.4
Silver – Peetu Piiroinen, Finland, 45.0
Bronze – Scott Lago, Seabrook, NH, 42.8
4. Iouri Podladtchikov, Switzerland, 42.4
5. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 39.4
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12. Greg Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 18.3
Author of Story: Matthew Piper
Teter Silver, Clark Bronze in Pipe
MEDIA NOTE: For audio of a press conference with the medal winners, click here.
CYPRESS MOUNTAIN, BC (Feb. 18) – Olympic gold medalists Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT) and Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow) added silver and bronze to their respective trophy cases, while Australia’s Torah Bright brought the gold medal Down Under with a final run 45.0 in Thursday night’s women’s halfpipe.
Though they fell just short of snowboarding’s highest honor, the dynamic U.S. riders now know intimately what it means to land on the podium in multiple Olympics.
“Medals are a really funny thing, because when you see them, they’re prestigious and you can stand in awe of an Olympic medal, but I think to the person who receives them, they mean so much more,” Clark said. “All the hard work, and all the days, weeks, months and years and people who were believing in me and having the courage to get up and pursue the Olympics after finishing out of the medals in Torino … I see so much more in this medal than I did in Salt Lake because I know how hard I had to work to get here.”
For the second consecutive night in the pipe, the U.S. qualified its full roster for the finals, with Teter, Clark and 2006 silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO) advancing straight to finals and Elena Hight (South Lake Tahoe, CA) marching through the semis.
“This is just one of the biggest events in the world, so it’s an honor to come and just be able to ride here and to be able to represent USA,” Teter said.
“I fell every practice run and hit my butt super hard three times, and I was happy to get that out of the way before finals,” she said. “It definitely takes a lot of positive thought to yourself to really get back in the zone after falling. It’s easy to lose focus.”
The second woman to win successive Olympic medals in snowboard, Teter gained the top spot after the first round of finals with a 42.4, landing a clean run as many of the other riders struggled to stay upright on the pipe. Bright, for her part, fell and received the round’s lowest score, a 5.9. Bleiler and Hight also fell their first times down.
Clark, the 2002 Olympic champion, came out amped up and singing to the music but fell on the final hit of her difficult first run. She delivered a better performance in run No. 2, ending with a huge 900 for a 42.2, just .2 behind Teter – whose solid second run was not counted.
“It’s never what you’re looking to do to fall first run, a lot of us found ourselves in that position tonight,” Clark said. “But it’s a position I personally have been in many times before through years of competition. Stick to the plan, regardless of what your circumstances are.”
Kicking off the second round, Bright (who lives in Salt Lake City) threw down a high-risk session that included a Switch Backside 7, setting a benchmark that nobody else could challenge.
Bleiler fell on an inverted 720 – one of the sport’s most difficult tricks – in the first run, and then missed her third hit on the second to drop out of medal contention. Hight also went down in both medal rounds.
The two medals bring the U.S. mark to 14 of 24 total podium spots since the sport’s inclusion in the Olympics in 1998. Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA) won gold and Scott Lago (Seabrook, NH) got the bronze in the men’s competition Wednesday night.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2010 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES
Cypress Mountain, BC – Feb. 18
Women’s Halfpipe
Gold – Torah Bright, Australia, 45.0
Silver – Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 42.4
Bronze – Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 42.2
4. Jiayu Liu, China, 39.3
5. Sophie Rodriguez, France, 34.4
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10. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 24.6
11. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 14.7
SBX Team Ready for All Comers
VANCOUVER, BC (Feb. 10) – After a gold and silver in Torino, the U.S. Olympic Snowboardcross Team might well have a target on its back at Cypress Mountain. But so does everybody else in the daring sport that pits four boarders against each other on an obstacle-laden battle to the bottom.
“I don’t think it really matters,” reigning Olympic men’s champion Seth Wescott (Sugarloaf, ME) said at an arrival press conference Wednesday. “We race head-to-head every time we compete.”
Wescott, fully recovered from an injury sustained after overshooting a jump in Telluride last December, was nipping at the heels of Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA) at the X Games in Aspen last week before his American teammate claimed his fifth X Games gold medal.
“It just adds a little fire to me,” Holland said. “I’m super fired up to be at my second Olympics and to have a big result two weeks prior is definitely motivating.
“When I step into the gate and I look around and see these guys, I know that these guys are definitely going to give me a run for my money as much, if not better, than any other teams out there.”
Holland fell during Wescott’s star turn in 2006, but he’s feeling good strong into Vancouver.
“I’m just going to get out there on the course and lay it down as hard as I can and leave my heart out on the course and see where I end up,” Holland said.
2006 silver medalist Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT) knows firsthand how unpredictable the sport of snowboardcross can be, so she’s keeping a level head despite the glare of the big lights.
“I pretty much approach every race the same way. I bring the same amount of passion and energy into every race,” Jacobellis said. “I want to go out there and win every time. I know that doesn’t happen, but I know I have the ability and I’m just going to try my best. It’s a new year, it’s a new day, and it’s going to be my mom’s birthday, so hopefully I’ll get her a good present.
Jacobellis is joined by two Olympic newcomers in serious contention: 17-year-old Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City) and Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Girdwood, AK), the first native Alaskan in the Olympic Games.
“It’s also nice having girls on the team now,” said Jacobellis. “Four years ago, when I made the team, I was all by myself. I was just chilling up at the top. Everyone’s doing their pep talks, and I’m just kicking the snow, looking at my snowboard.”
Speaking of snow, Wescott heard a course report from one of the Canadian coaches who conducted test runs Tuesday night, and he was very encouraged.
“It seems like VANOC and the IOC are going out of their way to pull it off,” he said. “We’ve all been in other parts of the country and seen the news reports that they’re trucking and flying snow in, so it’s good to hear from people on our side of the sport that the venue’s coming together well.”
Wescott and Holland will have to endure stiff competition from their own teammates.
World Championship bronze medalist Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, MI) is stoked for his first Olympic experience, which he’ll share with his son.
“To see how proud my son is, it’s overwhelming, and it’s great,” said the single father. “To be able to be here for the first time with these guys, I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
X Games silver medalist Graham Watanabe (Sun Valley, ID) returns to the Olympics after a surprise shot in 2006, and he explained the experience in a way that only Watanabe can.
“It’s feeling a lot more like this is my first Olympics,” he said, before regaling the crowd with his Watanabe-brand humor. “Try to imagine Pegasus mating with a unicorn, and the creature that they birth, I somehow tame it, and ride it into the sky into the clouds and sunshine and rainbows, that’s what it feels like.”
“I don’t quite know how to follow that,” Baumgartner deadpanned.
Training starts this weekend with the men competing on Monday starting with qualifications at 1:30 p.m. PT, and the women kick things off at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Thule Named Official Team Supplier
SEYMOUR, CT (Feb. 8) – Thule, a world leader in transportation accessories, has been named as the official automobile rack and cargo supplier to the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding. Thule will provide base racks, ski carriers and cargo boxes to the teams.
“Much like the athletes of the U.S Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding, Thule racks go through an extensive series of test to make sure they are some of the strongest products on the market. We are proud to support the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding as they make their journey to the Olympic Games in Vancouver,” remarked Tripp Wyckoff, vice president of sales, marketing and service for Thule.
Thule has designed a special roof box for the U.S. Ski Team. The unique white Thule Atlantis 1800 roof box with large U.S. Ski Team logos on the front and rear will be utilized on the roofs of a dozen U.S. Ski Team vehicles to carry skis and cargo to races.
“We are very excited to have Thule as a supplier to our programs. The Thule brand has always been associated with quality and innovative products and these products are just what our athletes need, ” commented Lisa Rasmussen, director of sales/marketing/licensing for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.
About Thule Inc.
Thule Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary within the Thule Group. It is the leading US manufacturer of transportation accessories with production sites in Seymour, Ct, Chicago, IL, Perry, FL and Thomasville, GA. Thule’s extensive product line features multi-purpose roof racks, roof top boxes, rear mount racks, truck boxes, side steps and accessories for transporting and organizing outdoor equipment (Thule) and professional contractor equipment (UWS) and recreational vehicles. For more information visit www.thuleracks.com.
About the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding
The U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding are a part of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, the national governing body of Olympic skiing. The century-old organization manages year-round nationwide development and elite programs, fields and maintains teams of world-class athletes for national and international competition, including the Olympic Games. With the vision to be the best in the world in Olympic skiing and snowboarding, the Team coordinates nationwide development and elite programs in six distinctly different Olympic sports: alpine, cross country, freestyle, nordic combined, ski jumping and snowboarding, as well as Paralympic sports of adaptive alpine and adaptive cross country.
What does it take to reserve your spot?
- $400 deposit online or by phone with a VISA/MC
- Balances aren’t due until April 30th
(with payment extensions available to those in need). - Use code “USASA10” at registration checkout,
to get your discount
Log on to highcascade.com or call 503.206.8520 to secure your spot
Bonus: Email highcascade@highcascade.com with your name and address to get a free copy of the HCSC / Airblaster movie and HCSC stickers.
US Rider Nate Holland Secures the 5Peat at Winter X
Author of Story: Lindsey Sine
ASPEN, CO (Jan. 30) – It was Nate Holland’s (Squaw Valley, CA) day Saturday as he took winning Winter X Games gold to a whole new level, marking the games’ first five-peat with his win in snowboardcross. Joining him for the U.S. domination was Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT), who marked down a three-peat for women’s SBX.
If he wasn’t already, Holland practically made himself the king of Winter X, evading hairy course crashes and overtaking leads to claim his record setting fifth gold.
“This is pretty surreal. To win a big event like this against the field of riders that is out here is quite an honor,” Holland said. “To do it once, I remember how fired up I was, to do it five times, I really don’t know what to say.”
In his first heat Holland was in the back, making a bid to catch the front group when three competitors in front of him went down. But, it was the final heat of back and forths between him and Olympic champion and second-place finisher Seth Wescott (Sugarloaf, ME) that got everyone on the edge of their seats, uncertain of what would be the outcome.
But, in the end Holland made the pass on Wescott, who led, to come over the final kicker and win.
“It was the best battle I had all day,” Holland said. “I don’t do anything different than the other races. I just have good energy here and I get up there and ride my heart out.”
As for where Holland is headed next – the Olympics – his plan is to stick with what has been working.
“In ‘06 I won this for the first time in my career and then had a wreck in Torino,” Holland said. “I just have to get in the gate, start riding and see where I land. There’s one thing for sure – I’m going to ride my heart out there.”
With every imaginable championship in his trophy case already, save the Baker Banked Slalom golden duct tape and X Games gold, Wescott was forced once again to walk away from the Buttermilk course with the gold eluding him once again.
According to the champ, too much speed had him casing the roller tops and lost his speed to Holland’s smoothness.
“We lost a little light on the course and after that stuff seemed so much faster in the final heat,” Wescott said. “When I came over those rollers I pretty much lost all control and skipped the top. I probably hit all five on the faces, so I was stoked to stay on my feet.”
But, in all, the silver pleased Wescott, who said, “I feel good about how the riding was today.”
Over in the women’s camp, no one stood a chance against the ever-dominant Jacobellis, who was happy to finally three peat the gold at Winter X.
“I’m psyched. I’m happy I got the three-peat this time. Four years ago I was in a position to get one and I couldn’t compete because I hurt my knee,” Jacobellis said.
For the golden girl, whose next stop is Vancouver for the Olympics, the crowd at Winter X maikes all the difference in her riding.
“It’s nice to do well at X Games,” Jacobellis said. “I seem to always have strong crowd support here. So it is great to win for them.”
Winter X continues Sunday for the final day of action sports with ski cross, mono-ski cross and snowboard slopestyle.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Winter X Games 14
Aspen, CO – Jan. 30, 2010
Snowboardcross
Men
1. Nate Holland, Squaw Valley, CA
2. Seth Wescott, Sugarloaf, ME
3. Alberto Schiavon, Italy
4. Jayson Hale, Sierraville, CA
5. JJ Tomlinson, Park City, UT
6. Nick Baumgartner, Iron River, MI
7. Graham Watanabe, Sun Valley, ID
8. Drew Neilson, Canada
9. Ross Powers, Okemo, VT
10. Mario Fuchs, Austria
11. David Speiser, Germany
Women
1. Lindsey Jacobellis, Stratton Mountain, VT
2. Helene Olafsen, Norway
3. Joanie Anderson, South Lake Tahoe, CA
4. Maria Ramberger, Austria
5. Alexandra Jekova, Bulgaria
6. Emilie Aubry, Switzerland
7. Faye Gulini, Salt Lake City
8. Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, Girdwood, AK
9. Marni Yamada, Seattle
10. Suzie Moll, Austria
11. Ziggy Cowan, Canada
12. Kayla Klaus, Canada
# # #
To see Video of this event go to : 2010 ESPN X Games Men\’s Finals
Olympic Snowboarding Team Named
PARK CITY, UT (Jan. 25) – Olympic gold medalists Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA), Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, VT), Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT), and Seth Wescott (Sugarloaf, ME) each highlight a talent-filled roster as the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) announced the 2010 Olympic Snowboarding Team Monday.
USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt, together with the U.S. Olympic Committee and Team partner Visa, announced the roster of 18 athletes to compete in the snowboard events at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver.
“We are going in to the 2010 Games with one of the strongest athletic lineups possible,” U.S. Snowboarding Head Coach Peter Foley said. “We’re hoping to go into Vancouver and build on the successes we saw in 2006. This Team is in position to do great things.”
After winning four of five events at the Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix, White, who took the gold medal in 2006, has kept his stronghold on winning halfpipe events and will be a favorite in Vancouver.
“Shaun is truly an amazing competitor. After winning in 2006 he has been non-stop and has played a huge role in the progression halfpipe has seen in these past four years,” U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Head Coach Mike Jankowski said.
Joining White is a lineup of talented riders with unique style, including Louie Vito (Sandy, UT), who has back to back double corks in his repertoire and Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH) who reaches mesmerizing heights with each hit in the pipe. Greg Bretz (Mammoth Lakes, CA) who has the coveted double cork in his bag as well, completes the men’s roster.
Danny Davis (Detroit, MI) would have qualified for the Olympic team with a fourth in the Grand Prix standings, but suffered an injury earlier this month that will keep him out of competition.
On the women’s side of things, the Olympic Team will be comprised of the same talent it featured in 2006.
Clark also won four of the five Grand Prix stops to make the team, and has been using her time to lock down new tricks that she plans to add to her run as she looks for success in Vancouver.
Filling out the women’s roster, Olympic silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO), Teter, and 2006 Olympian Elena Hight (South Lake Tahoe, CA) all bring the Olympic experience and heavy-hitting tricks to make the grade at Cypress Mountain.
Defending snowboardcross champ Wescott fills out one of the most talented SBX men’s teams making its way to Vancouver.
“It was a huge battle to make this men’s SBX team. Six different U.S. riders have already been on the World Cup podium this season, and only four of them make the Olympic Team,” Foley said. “Vancouver is going to be an incredible fight for the podium, and our guys are ready for it.”
Five-time X Games gold medalist Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA) is gunning for success after an unfortunate fall in the 2006 Games. After getting a surprise shot at being an Olympian in 2006, Graham Watanabe (Sun Valley, ID) is prepared for 2010, toting World Cup wins and an X Games silver medal on his way in. And, joining the seasoned Olympians is World Championship bronze medalist Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, MI).
In the women’s SBX field, Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT), who earned silver in 2006, has taken win after win in the four years leading up to the 2010 Games and looks strong going in to Vancouver.
Joining Jacobellis are Olympic newcomers and solid contenders Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City) and Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Girdwood, AK).
Finalizing the Olympic Snowboarding Team are the alpine racers, who are led by 2006 Olympian Tyler Jewell (Steamboat Springs, CO), who came out on top of the team selection process.
Two-time Olympian and 2002 bronze medalist Chris Klug (Aspen, CO) joins Jewell for the men. He notched two top-eight results on the World Cup this season to grab his third team spot and was on the original Olympic Team in 1998 for the sport’s debut. Michelle Gorgone (Boston), who also competed in 2006, will represent the U.S. for the women.
“Klug’s hard work and perseverance have really paid off,” Foley said. “What an amazing accomplishment it is for him to make the Olympic teams in 98, and 2002, then miss the team in 2006, and now comeback and make the team again in 2010.”
Snowboarding kicks off with the men’s SBX on Feb. 15.
The Team is subject to final review by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
2010 U.S. OLYMPIC SNOWBOARDING TEAM
(name, hometown, age as of opening ceremonies, birthdate, (past Olympics))
Halfpipe Men
Greg Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 19, 12/19/1990
Scotty Lago, Seabrook, NH, 22, 11/12/1987
Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 21, 3/20/1988
Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 23, 9/3/1986 (2006)
Halfpipe Women
Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 28, 04/10/1981 (2006)
Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 26, 07/26/1983 (2002, 2006)
Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 20, 08/17/1989 (2006)
Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 23, 01/27/1987 (2006)
SBX Men
Nick Baumgartner, Iron River, MI, 28, 12/17/1981
Nate Holland, Squaw Valley, CA, 31, 11/8/1978 (2006)
Graham Watanabe, Sun Valley, ID, 27, 03/19/1982 (2006)
Seth Wescott, Sugarloaf, ME, 33, 06/28/1976 (2006)
SBX Women
Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, Girdwood, AK, 24, 04/17/1985
Faye Gulini, Salt Lake City, 17, 03/24/1992
Lindsey Jacobellis, Stratton Mountain, VT, 24, 08/19/1985 (2006)
PGS Men
Tyler Jewell, Steamboat Springs, CO, 32, 02/21/1977 (2006)
Chris Klug, Aspen, CO, 37, 11/18/1972 (1998, 2002)
PGS Women
Michelle Gorgone, Boston, 26, 10/18/1983 (2006)
To view photos click here: http://skiing.teamusa.org/multimedia/photo_gallery/1229/photo/26111?refresh=auto#gallery-header
U.S. Olympic Snowboarding Team Announced
PARK CITY, UT (Jan. 23) – Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH) rode his way onto his first Olympic Team with a huge first run Saturday night at Park City Mountain Resort, putting down a score of 48.00 to win the spot. Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA) delighted fans with a Vancouver-ready 49.50 and earning his second victory in two nights, while Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, VT) matched that feat in the women’s event.
One day after scoring a 49.00 and landing the first-ever competition double McTwist 12, White was rewarded with a Grand Prix record 49.50 for stomping the same run and used his victory lap to high five spectators in watching in the light snow alongside the 22-foot megapipe at the Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix.
“For me tonight to put that run together was unreal,” White said. “It felt great.
“I wanted to push the judges to boundaries that they can go to. I know they haven’t handed out a full-on perfect score yet. I’ll get them.”
With pressure of Olympic qualification thick in the air, Lago gave the gold medalist a run for his money for a second straight competition.
“I’m still in shock right now,” Lago said. “Obviously, it’s been a huge goal of mine for the last couple seasons to make the team, and to realize that I just did it, so many things are going through my head.”
The top three men and women from the Grand Prix, based on average of two best results, get a spot on the fourth-ever Olympic Team which will be formally named on Monday.
White led the men’s standings, followed by Lago and Louie Vito (Sandy, UT). Clark, the 2002 gold medalist, took the women’s title, followed by Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO) and 2006 gold medalist Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT), who was second twice in Park City and plans to donate all of her earnings to charity.
The six were announced to the crowd at a concert following the Grand Prix finale, where “I Ride For Pearce” stickers were abundant in honor of Kevin Pearce (Norwich, VT), still recovering in a Salt Lake City hopsital from a severe head injury sustained in training three weeks ago.
“It was a hard-fought battle, obviously, getting on this team, but I feel like the best of the best are sitting right here, and we’re going to go into Vancouver with the strongest team ever,” said U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Head Coach Mike Jankowski.
Like White, fellow Grand Prix points leader Clark did enough in her first run to take a pressure-free final jaunt. She went front-side air, back-side 5, front-side 9, backside 5 and front-side 7 to cab 7.
“Everything heading into this event was practicing for the Olympics,” Clark said. “Getting to do the most difficult run in a contest setting is the best way to get ready for Vancouver.”
Fans can watch the Saturday’s finals Sunday on NBC Sports at 3:00 p.m. ET.
The team will travel to Aspen for X Games events before going to Vancouver. The full 2010 Olympic Snowboarding Team will be announced Monday.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2010 Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix
Park City, UT – Jan. 23, 2010
Halfpipe
Men
1. Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 49.50
2. Scotty Lago, Seabrook, NH, 48.00
3. Luke Mitrani, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 45.30
4. Gregory Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 44.80
5. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO, 44.20
6. Jack Mitrani, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 42.30
7. Dylan Bidez, Minturn, CO, 41.30
8. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, CO, 40.60
9. Zack Black, Breckenridge, CO, 38.50
10. Broc Waring, Edwards, CO, 38.20
Women
1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 47.40
2. Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 43.90
3. Kaitlyn Farrington, Sun Valley, ID, 41.00
4. Maddy Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 36.50
5. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 36.20
6. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 25.40
7. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 15.50
8. Kelly Marren, Hillsborough, CA, 12.60
DNS – Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO
Final Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Standings
Average of best two results (ties broken)
Men
1. Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 1000
2. Scotty Lago, Seabrook, NH, 800
3. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 800
4. Danny Davis, Detroit, MI, 645
5. Greg Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 550
6. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO, 550
7. Luke Mitrani, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 550
8. Zack Black, Breckenridge, CO, 525
9. Elijah Teter, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 475
10. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, CO, 400
Women
1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 1000
2. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 900
3. Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 800
4. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 650
5. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 600
6. Kaitlyn Farrington, Sun Valley, ID, 500
7. Maddy Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 500
8. Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO, 425
9. Kelly Marren, Hillsborough, CA, 320
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Watanabe Clinches Olympic Spot
Author of Story: Lindsey Sine
STONEHAM, Quebec (Jan. 21) – And so, one chapter ended and another began for U.S. Snowboarding Thursday as Graham Watanabe (Sun Valley, ID) took second and Shaun Palmer (South Lake Tahoe, CA) third in their final shot for Olympic qualification during a snowboardcross World Cup in Stoneham. With his second place, Watanabe locked up a spot co compete on the largest athletic stage in the world – the Olympics.
“I don’t even really know how to summarize it,” Watanabe said. “It’s a confirmation of everything I have worked for. It’s not the end all be all, but making it to the Olympics is a difficult task, especially with a team like ours, and achieving that goal is a big step in achieving a bigger goal in my snowboarding, which is to be the best I can be.”
But, it was not all smooth sailing for Watanabe. In qualifications he went down on his first run. The pressure was on for the second run with Watanabe needing to qualify in order to be considered for the Olympics. With some heavy concentration and focus, Watanabe came through to not only qualify, but post the fastest qualifying time.
“That made it interesting for today because it added more pressure for myself. I wondered if I could continue it or if I had used up all my gusto in qualifiers,” Watanabe.
The gusto remained, though, with Watanabe advancing each heat with excellent riding.
“For Graham this is amazing. The amount of pressure that was on him was huge,” U.S. Snowboarding Head Coach Peter Foley said. “He just charged all day, had great starts and killed it. It was a ton of pressure that he dealt with great, and that’s a good sign heading toward the Olympics.”
Watanabe was also a member of the 2006 Olympic Team, but under interesting circumstances. Sent to Italy as a wax tech after he failed to qualify, Watanabe was plugged into the Olympic lineup when a teammate was injured during training. Watanabe said he feels like this time he belongs in Vancouver.
“I felt like I was Olympic caliber in 2006. I had raced all season against all those same people. But I also felt like I had teammates who were better suited for that position and it took injuries for me to get in there,” Watanabe said. “But this time I feel like I belong there. I put in several years of progress and consistent riding in the top group.”
In the end, Watanabe won’t call what happened in Stoneham fate, but he will say he achieved one of his goals.
“I’m not a big believer in destiny or fate, but this is something I set my sights on and made it a goal,” Watanabe said. “When I feel like I’m riding the way I’m riding, it was an absolute achievable goal.”
Palmer, a legend of the sport, marked the third World Cup podium of his career as he rounded out the top-three Thursday. He needed at least second to make the Olympic Team.
According to Foley, Palmer was doing everything right, but the top two just had more speed.
“He did awesome. He qualified fourth, so he had good speed. In all of his heats he rode great, he made passes and charged it all day,” Foley said. “In the final heat Pierre Vaultier [France] and Graham were faster than him and he got third. It’s pretty hard to take for him.”
With the final event out of the way, the U.S. Olympic Team for snowboarding will be announced Monday, Jan. 25.
For Watanabe, the journey thus far has been incredible, and the future is something he looks forward to.
“I want to applaud everyone that was gunning for it today. It was an intense atmosphere. Ross Powers did an incredible job and got so close. And Shaun Palmer, of course, came so close and did such an amazing job,” Watanabe said. “It’s been an awesome year and it’s been an honor to ride alongside these guys. I’m psyched I could be here for it all.”
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2010 LG FIS Snowboard World Cup
Stoneham, Quebec – Jan. 21, 2010
Snowboardcross
Men
1. Pierre Vaultier, France
2. Graham Watanabe, Sun Valley, ID
3. Shaun Palmer, South Lake Tahoe, CA
4. Drew Neilson, Canada
5. Mike Robertson, Canada
-
9. Ross Powers, Okemo, VT
10. Alex Deibold,
11. Nick Baumgartner, Iron River, MI
19. Nate Holland, Squaw Valley, CA
23. Jonathan Cheever, Saugus, MA
30. Mick Deirdorff,
32. Jason Smith, Basalt, CO
35. Pat Holland, Squaw Valley, CA
Women
1. Maelle Ricker, Canada
2. Helene Olafsen, Norway
3. Dominique Maltais, Canada
4. Sandra Frei, Switzerland
5. Mellie Francon, Switzerland
-
16. Faye Gulini, Salt Lake City
17. Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, Girdwood, AK
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