Holland & Jacobellis Do It Again
Author of Story: Lindsey Sine
BOREAL RESORT, CA (Feb. 1) – It was a déjà vu Sunday. One week after their X Games victories, Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA) and Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT) took to the top of the podium again, winning the first stop of the Visa Snowboardcross Championship Series at the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix presented by Visa at Boreal Resort.
For Holland, it was huge to get the win in his hometown to give his friends a taste of what they can’t see when he’s on the road.
“I was claiming encore performance from X Games all week long to myself, telling myself that everybody is going to expect a lot out of me and I’m stoked,” Holland said. “I’m proud to have everyone come out, it was a good showing and I am just stoked.”
While Holland appears to be dominating with back to back wins, he says each win is hard fought and never easy.
“I’ve had to fight for every one of my victories. It feels amazing, for sure. I know I am riding well, so it’s not a surprise to me, but I’ve just got to keep this ball rolling for the rest of the season,” Holland said. “I’m on a roll now, so I’m just going to ride this one out as hard and fast as I can.”
Holland led a U.S. Snowboarding sweep of the men’s podium with Graham Watanabe (Sun Valley, ID) in second and Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, MI) in third.
“I wasn’t expecting much, but honestly, a lot of times whether it’s in training or otherwise, if I feel like I’m riding like crap something good comes out of it,” Watanabe said.
In the women’s race, Jacobellis was a sure shot from the start, getting the hole shot and stretching her lead in each heat.
“I was really happy with the way I was riding. I was one of the few people who were able to link the features right out of the gate because they’re really hard to clear and get to the sweet spot. It was huge to try and make those two transitions,” Jacobellis said. “Turn four was the only thing I had to worry about because it started to get really chopped from everyone going so fast into it. But once I got to the rollers I was home free.
“I felt totally comfortable in those and I love going really fast in those and accelerating down. I had a great time coming here for the first time.”
Jacobellis credits her consistent victories to the hours she puts in at the gym in order to have the strongest body she can.
“I think my training is huge. It’s been helping me with my stamina. I don’t get as affected and I’m not as winded. It helps protect you from injuries, too, to be in the best physical shape that you can be in,” Jacobellis said.
According to U.S. Snowboarding Head Coach Peter Foley, with each win Jacobellis reiterates her status as the best female SBXer in the world.
“Lindsey is so far ahead of all the women in the world right now and so on her game. She just gets out in front and rides super strong,” Foley said.
The U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix presented by Visa at Boreal Resort is now concluded. The tour now moves on to Killington Resort in Vermont for the final halfpipe and the Paul Mitchell Progression Session March 14-15.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 U.S. SNOWBOARDING GRAND PRIX
Visa Snowboardcross Championship Series
Boreal Resort, CA – Feb.1, 2009
Snowboardcross
Men
1. Nate Holland, Squaw Valley, CA
2. Graham Watanabe, Sun Valley, ID
3. Nick Baumgartner, Iron River, MI
4. Seth Wescott, Sugarloaf, ME
5. Jason Smith, Basalt, CO
Women’s
1. Lindsey Jacobellis, Stratton Mountain, VT
2. Joanie Anderson, South Lake Tahoe, CA
3. Kim Krahulec, Silverthorne, CO
4. Ziggy Cowan, Canada
5. Gesine Sahlfeld, Germany