SHAUN PALMER
QUALIFIES FOR U.S. SBX TEAM
| Bad Gastein, Austria
-Snowboarding legend Shaun Palmer officially tossed his name into
the Olympic hat Wednesday claiming second in a World Cup snowboardcross
for his career first World Cup podium. Leading the majority of
the final, “The Palm” made a minor mistake allowing
Canadian Drew Neilson to slip by for the win. Xavier Delarue of
France and Austrian Mario Fuchs filled out the top four. World
Champion Seth Wescott was seventh.
Recently crowned U.S. SBX champ and legend in her own right Leslee
Olson (Bend, OR) was the top American woman finishing sixth. Another
Canadian Dominique Maltais won the event ahead of Olivia Nobs
of Switzerland, Austrian Manuela Riegler and fellow Canadian Maelle
Ricker. Marni Yamada (Seattle, WA), the only other American woman,
finished 35th. |
 |
Whether it’s BMX, skateboarding, motocross or Cadillac collecting,
there isn’t much that Palmer hasn’t mastered and now he
wants an Olympic medal. After dominating the X Games from 1997 to 2000,
Palmer fell out of professional snowboarding, but when the Olympics
welcomed SBX into the program, he wanted in. Wednesday’s top-four
World Cup result was just the ticket he needed to solidify his status
as an Olympic Team contender.
The criteria for making the U.S. Olympic SBX Team is:
1. Top-4 World Cup result
TIEBREAKER:
• Highest ’06 World Cup
• Second highest World Cup
• Highest world ranking
Action continues Thursday from Bad Gastein with a second SBX. The team
will be named Jan. 21 at the final stop of the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding
Grand Prix in Mountain Creek, N.J.
FIS SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP
Bad Gastein, Austria
Snowboardcross, Jan. 4, 2006
Men
1. Drew Neilson, Canada
2. Shaun Palmer, South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
3. Xavier Delarue, France
4. Mario Fuchs, Austria
-
7. Seth Wescott, Farmington, Maine
11. Graham Watanabe, Sun Valley, Idaho
13. Jayson Hale, Sugarbowl, Calif.
19. Jason Smith, Basalt, Colo.
21. Nate Holland, Olympic Valley, Calif.
-
Women
1. Dominique Maltais, Canada
2. Olivia Nobs, Switzerland
3. Manuela Riegler, Austria
4. Maelle Ricker, Canada
-
6. Leslee Olson, Bend, Ore.
35. Marni Yamada, Seattle, Wash.
