 |
|
GRAHAM WATANABE, LESLEE OLSON WIN INAUGURAL U.S. SBX CHAMPIONSHIPS
Fellow U.S. Snowboarding rider Graham Watanabe (Sun Valley, ID) was
crowned the men’s U.S. champion, followed by team riders Jason
Smith (Basalt, CO) and Nate Holland (Olympic Valley CA), who also trained
out of custom-built start gate this summer and earned a World Cup SBX
win in October. “Training in the start gate made a big difference – night and day,” said Olson, who won all of her heats Friday and has been competing internationally since 1996. “I also had some mental issues to overcome after the World Cup in Switzerland. I tore up my ankle on a banked turn and couldn’t race. Since then I found myself hesitating on banked turns, but today I fell like I finally got over that.” Conversely, Watanabe’s battle wasn’t so much a feature on the course or his reaction time in the start gate, but rather he was literally having trouble making it into the start gate at all. He has traveled to every World Cup SBX this season as the team’s first alternate, never got the nod, and had to watch as everyone else competed. Winning at Mt. Hood Meadows was Watanabe’s only sure shot at securing a start in three World Cup events – two of which will serve as Olympic team qualifiers. “It’s been super frustrating but super fun all at the same time,” said Watanabe, who won a World Cup last season. “But it had to be done. This was my last chance to qualify to compete. I’ve been riding really well, but so has everyone else…To finally get in there and get my chance is really satisfying.” However, Watanabe’s ride to the finals wasn’t exactly “a walk in the park.” He finished second in his first and second heats, then was tripped up in the start of the third heat when the gate was dropped without proper warning. His reaction was good, but his contacts were suddenly bone dry. While concentrating more on his eyes than the course, he spun out and momentarily thought his day was over. Instead, judges noted the miscommunication at the start gate re-ran Watanabe’s third heat. Watanabe realized he had a second chance and immediately prepared to capitalize on the opportunity. What’s more, it was Olson – whom Watanabe calls “my tour sister” – who called out to the crowd for some rewetting drops for his contacts. The eye drops did the trick and Watanabe won on his second go-around. In the finals, Smith was tight on Watanabe’s heels, but Watanabe got the hole shot and was able to control the outcome. Watanabe, Olson and the rest of the U.S. SBX riders will have to wait until the New Year to duke it out for those coveted Olympic SBX team spots. Next up are two SBX races in Bad Gastein, Austria, Jan. 4-5 – one of which is an Olympic qualifier – and one final race before the Games in Kronplatz, Italy, Jan. 14. The U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team will be announced Jan. 21 at the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix in Mountain Creek, N.J. U.S. Snowboardcross Championships |
Torino
2006 Olympic Tickets On Sale