Westbound Boarder

Gotta love Jimmy Kimmel… Gotta love Kimmel even more when Scotty Lago is on!  This past Friday, US Olympic half pipe bronze medalist Scotty Lago appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel show to talk about what it was like to win an Olympic bronze medal … and how it felt to be sent home a couple days later.

In case you didn’t catch it, Olympic snowboarder Scotty Lago was asked to leave the Olympic games (or face a disciplinary hearing) 2 weeks early after some “mildly suggestive” photos appeared on TMZ, depicting Lago “using his bronze medal for snowboarding to score chicks.”

Personally, I think the Olympic committee overreacted in their decision to ask Scotty to leave the games.  When I first heard about the incident (without seeing the photos, firsthand), I expected him to be stark naked or something!  Really, the photos weren’t that bad, and the only reason the Olympic committee got upset is likely because Scotty was wearing a T-shirt with the Olympic logo plainly visible in one of the photos.  I understand the perspective that the medal is sacred (or whatever) and should not be treated in an incriminaing light, however, I’m sure every athlete parties a little bit and wants to show off their new, shiny piece of medal.  Especially around attractive females! :)  After all, Olympic athletes are human, too.  Scotty just happened to use his medal to lure in the female fish … while also reeling in the paparazzi.

This incident brings up two good points.  First, this is the first Olympic games where new media played a huge role.  New media tends to accelerate the news cycle, and I don’t think athletes this year were adequately prepared to address.  Second, Scotty became a celebrity basically overnight.  In chatting about the incident with some of my coworkers a couple of days after, one of them said quite brashly, “what do you expect from a snowboarder?”  Ok, no.  What do you expect from any normal teenager?!  Case in point, and if anything, the Olympic committee should have taken stronger measures (and a long, boring seminar isn’t quite what I consider a measure) to enforce appropriate conduct at parties that athletes consider safe from the limelight.

All said and done now, Lago’s voluntary exit doesn’t change the fact that last week he became an American hero.  But it was his home town that supported him the most.  The Olympic games and the athletes that bring them to life are important, because they give small town kids big dreams, dreams they will work hard to achieve.  And the day Scotty won the bronze, thousands of kids around the world thought, “Wow.  That will be me someday.”

Despite being sent home from the Olympics prior to the closing ceremonies, Jimmy Kimmel came through and threw Scotty a closing ceremony of his very own!  The incident is something that will be left in the dust, and at least Scotty has a good attitude about it.  In the words of Lago, “It is what it is.”

Hi ya’all.  Just a quick reminder that tonight at midnight PT is your LAST chance to enter our Cushe boots giveaway!  So enter now, or forever have cold feet.

On a similar note, we are also giving away an Oakley prize pack, featuring limited edition Olympics Oakley gear.  Enter here by next Monday night.

This coming weekend marks the last few events of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, as Sunday’s closing ceremonies will officially end the games.  The last two events in snowboarding will happen tonight and tomorrow at Cypress, the men’s and women’s snowboarding Giant Slalom (women’s on Friday, men’s on Saturday).  The Giant Slalom is one of the most grueling events in the Olympic games, where riders race head-to-head around gates against another opponent (and to be completely candid, I’m not too familiar with this type of event, as it is not typically held in American mainstream competitive circuits.  So I’m particularly excited to watch!)

One thing I have noticed about this year’s games in comparison to years past is that snowboarding has taken a much larger role in the overall event, and I really think it’s safe to say that it was one of the most hyped sports in the Olympics this year.  In the past, snowboarding has always taken a sideline seat to skiing, however, I think this year we really saw a shift in perceptions, especially among mainstream audiences.  I, for one, heard many more people talking about the snowboarding events compared to the skiing events.  In fact, I really didn’t hear much about skiing outside of American athletes Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller, but everyone from the hardcore riders at my local mountain to the could-care-less-about-sports folks (like my sister) knew the names of the American roster and gathered around their TV sets to cheer them on as they rode though the pipe.  The progression the sport of snowboarding has seen in recent years has absolutely played a contributing role in raising the profile of snowboarding in this year’s Olympics, but the athletes themselves have helped lift the image as well.  In the past couple of years, snowboarders (often seen as “tyrants” on the slopes… sometimes for good reason ) such as Shaun White, Gretchen Bleiler, and Hannah Teter have emerged as role models, and instead of parents resenting the lifestyle that comes along with the sport, they are now encouraging their kids to take part.  It’s really cool to see your sport in the limelight, and to see and hear the nation collectively cheering on the athletes you’ve been supporting since day 1 and giving them the props they rightly deserve.  I’m really interested to see how the sport will evolve over the next 10 years, as the kids who are now growing up idolizing athletes like Shaun White, begging their parents to buy them a new ride, start competing.  Maybe in the next Olympics we’ll start to see quadruple corks?

So, as much all of us involved in the snowboard industry roll our eyes at the Olympic games (it even sounds like Vancouver is feeling a bit of buyer’s remorse this year) they have helped to tremendously raise the profile of snowboarding among mainstream audiences.  And right now, and for the future of snowboarding, that’s a really good thing.

WIN IT! To celebrate the final weekend of the 2010 Olympic games, we have a limited edition Oakley prize pack to give away!  Snowboarding would not be in the position it is today if it weren’t for the major brands behind it, so I’m really excited to announce this fun giveaway.  One reader will have the opportunity to win an Oakley prize pack, pictured to the right.  The pack is part of the Oakley Global Collection of products, which has been designed to honor Oakley’s global team of athletes participating in this year’s Olympics. It includes a set of limited edition Global Crowbar Snow Goggles, Global Fuel Cell sunglasses, Global backpack, women’s Oakley Global t-shirt, an Oakley Global beanie and collector’s pin. The graphics on the collection recognize the heritage of British Columbia and Vancouver, host city to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

How to win…Leave us a comment below and tell us how YOU think that snowboarding fared in this year’s Olympic Games, and how you think the games helped raise the profile of snowboarding nationwide (and if you don’t agree?  Bring it on!)  The contest will close on Monday, March 8 at midnight PT, and we’ll draw one winner the next day to receive the pack.

If you just so happen to be in Vancouver right now (lucky you!) make sure you stop by Oakley’s Rolling O-Lab and Pop-Up Store before they roll away Sunday night.  Details:

• The Rolling O-Lab is a mobile demonstration unit that educates visitors about the science behind quality eye protection. Technology presentations include the use of optical laser scope equipment that demonstrates clarity and prism shift, ultraviolet emitters and measuring devices to illustrate UV protection, and testing rigs that show the effects of high-velocity and high-mass impact situations.  Fans can visit the Rolling O-Lab at Grouse Mountain 9am - 8pm, and the best part?  It’s free! (We love free)
• Meanwhile, the Pop-Up Store features a fully enriched Oakley retail experience complete with an array of the company’s products. One of the store’s highlights is an Oakley Custom Bar, where visitors can customize select Oakley eyewear and goggle products.  It is located at 488 Robson Street.

And speaking of giveaways, in case you haven’t already entered, be sure to also check out our Cushe Boots giveaway.  Ends Monday, March 1!

Update: Dear Readers, thanks for all your fabulous comments - we got some great feedback, and it’s nice to hear that most of you enjoyed watching this year’s team take Olympic snowboarding to new heights.  Congrats to Maria, the winning commenter! (Selected via random.org).  Check back for more giveaways soon!

Now, we don’t often get the opportunity to write about events other than snowboarding, but for last night’s Olympic ice skating performance, we’ll make an exception!

Rachel Flatt was the first performer from the USA for women’s figure skating to take on the rink. She had a beautiful and graceful performance with a smile the whole time. Full, clean spins and jumps. She scored 182.49, her personal best. Japan performed next with a score of 188.86.

Then, the highly-anticipated dancer Kim Yu-Na from South Korea. With tons of passion and pressure from her country, she gracefully went into her jumps and axles with more speed than the other dancers, throwing a huge double axle triple toe loop. She made her routine look so easy. Magical and focused, Kim felt the music as she skated… earning her a score of 228.56! Which put Kim in Gold medal position.

She was the first S. Korean to win a figure skating Gold & she also took home an Olympic world record score. Yet another record attempted by Mao Asada scored 205.50 from Japan, she was the first women ever in the Olympics to land three triple axles in the same competition. Watching her perform made me see how she was Kim Yu-Na’s greatest competition.

Canada’s graceful Joannie Rochette was up next performing days after her mother passing. You could see the courage and determination in her performance. Very inspiring, to say the least. She scored a 202.64, putting her in Silver medal position with one skater left. Sixteen year old skater from USA Marai Nagasu scored a 190.15. We will be seeing her in Olympic years to come.

Final Results
Kim Yu Na: Gold
Mao Asada: Silver
Joannie Rochette: Bronze

An interview with me on Women Talk Sports.  All the background you’ll ever need on Westbound Boarder and competitive snowboarding!  Maaan I need to be media trained! (And maybe I should have showered, first? )

Interview with Andrea Nowack from Women Talk Sports on Vimeo.

Lindsey is one of the few females to appear on a SI cover

Throughout the past couple of weeks, we’ve covered the Olympic snowboard games in depth; however, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also take a step back and comment on the Olympic ski games as well. Last week, alongside the men’s halfpipe event, the world also saw world-renowned American athlete Lindsey Vonn take home a gold as well.  However, her path to and through the games is what’s truly inspiring.

Lindsey has always had a knack for competition, with 31 World Cup finishes behind her. But during the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, a crash landed her in the hospital. She returned the next day, however, to finish eighth. But this year, four years later, Lindsey had her sights set on one thing - the Olympic gold.

Heading into the games over the past couple of months, Lindsey Vonn emerged as an audience favorite, becoming the US “face” of the women’s games. With her cute, all-American look, and determination that moved mountains, America was quick to deem Lindsey the rising star and first in line for the gold. Which, I think, is both good and bad. She had so much support from America heading into the games, but she also had a lot to live up to. And we all saw what happened to snowboard fan favorite Lindsey Jacobellis - she didn’t even place. But Vonn pulled through, winning the gold in the downhill alpine event despite a massive shin injury she suffered, an injury that nearly cost her the opportunity to compete. She was the first American woman to ever win the downhill alpine ski race.

Lindsey did have a shot at winning two golds in two days, her second shot being in the Super Combined, however, in the slalom portion of the race she crashed over a gate because she couldn’t get her foot around it fast enough, costing her a podium finish. She claims the crash had nothing to do with her injury. She went on to compete in two other events, winning a bronze in the Super-G and DQing from the Giant Slalom, walking away with a broken finger.

All in all, one gold and one bronze, out of five qualified-for events? Not bad! Despite the two ugly sticks Vonn carries (kidding, of course! We love skiers, too) Lindsey Vonn remains a flippin’ chick in our books.

Side note: We hear Lindsey will be on Jay Leno March 1, so make sure to check it out!

I need to come clean and admit something here. The men’s downhill has been and always will be, my favorite Olympic event. The downhill is the bull riding event of the Olympics. Instead of an 8 second ride however, you’re expected to stay on for about a minute and a half. It is definitely not ice dancing or, God forbid, Curling.

In the downhill event, the difference between bronze and gold could literally be measured in the time it takes you to blink. And that is exactly what Bode Miller snatched away from the other competitors during the men’s downhill and super G event(s) on Cyprus Mountain.

Like him or not, the guy captures the heart and soul of downhill racing. Lot’s of folks say that he parties too much or is too arrogant and some even may claim he has a touch of Turret’s syndrome when asked about his skiing ability and /or lifestyle choices. My opinion is that these traits are exactly what he needs to win - to be Bode.

The morning that he won the bronze in the men’s downhill, Bode was nervous. Understandably so considering that in a sense, this was almost a comeback of sorts. If you remember, it was four years ago in Turin where after a night of partying he had a dismal showing. This year is different. Bode is now a father of a beautiful little girl (winning the super G on her 2nd birthday), more determined and more focused than ever before.

A lot has been said of Bode. Some good, some really distasteful. Bode’s no saint, don’t get me wrong, nor all things to all people. Bode is just one hell of a fast skier. A skier who goes for broke and is true to who he is and what he needs to be in order to win.

The Olympic halfpipe events, which most participants have spent months, even years, preparing for, have come and gone, and it really was quite a good time.  Shaun White totally stole the show (and for good reason) but with all the hype around White the past few weeks, I think many of the talents of other competitors got lost in the mix.  Lago, Vito, Bleiler, Clark, even some of the international riders, all put on a great show, and were acclaimed in their own, individual ways.

So now, I want to open it up to you all and invite you to share your thoughts post-comps.  Did you watch the Olympic snowboard games?  Who was your favorite competitor?  What were your favorite moments?

Let’s hear it in the comments below!

After a a rough round of first runs with multiple gnarly crashes, there really was no telling who was going to take home the prize in the womens halfpipe this evening. But the results are in and even though Westbound was holding out for an all USA podium, we are still pleased that the USA dominated it taking home Silver and Bronze. USA rider Hannah Teter led the pack at the end of the first round as most of the top contenders, including Gretchen Bleiler (USA), Elena Height (USA), Torah Bright (AUS) and Kelly Clark (USA) all crashed their first runs. This lead to some intense final runs as the girls really had to step it up if they wanted to take home a medal.

Unfortunately the crash course continued as both USA competitors Bleiler tumbled on her cab 720 and Height fell on her second run as well; eliminating their chances for any medal. Clark had a solid second run with a 42.2. As Bright had also fallen her first run, the pressure was really on. Although from Bright herself, “I like to think I’m pretty laid back. It’s not the end of the world. I fell. It happens. I had to go out and have a bit of fun with it. I’m just so excited I was able to put down that second run tonight.” And that is exactly what she did. Her run consisted of a backside 360, a switch backside 720, backside 540 an Air to Fakie and cab 720. Wow.

After her second run, Bright impatiently waited at the bottom of the pipe as the other ladies gave it their all. It finally all came down to the defending gold medalist… who threw down a backside air, frontside 900, backside 540, a sketchy frontside 360 and a cab 720. Unfortunately Teter’s feat was not good enough and at the end of her run, the recognition of the loss was on her face.

Teter was disappointed that she didn’t take home the back to back gold (as was I!) but admitted that, “Torah’s run was super motivating.”  Teter said, “Her run was exceptional. You wanted to go super big and try to catch her, but I couldn’t catch her. She was on fire.”

And clearly she was. Bright had the run of the night and now has the gold to prove it. And to my disappointment, that brings the Olympic halfpipe competitions to an end. Well, for 4 years at least. What will the 2014 halfpipe in Russia bring us? I seriously can’t wait. Great job ladies, each and everyone of you are such an inspiration!

Torah Bright (AUS) 45.0

Hannah Teter (USA) 42.4

Kelly Clark (USA) 42.2

Well, the news is officially out there; Australian snowboarder Torah Bright is taking home the Gold from tonight’s women’s halfpipe competition, earning a score of 45.0.  US rider (and defending Gold medalist from Torino) Hannah Teter came in second with a score of 42.4, while Kelly Clark, also from the US team, came in third with a 42.2.  Clark, who has pretty much scored first consistently throughout all US team qualifying rounds, was overshadowed by Teter by mere fraction-points; but that’s the way it goes.  More to come, but just wanted t share the great news!

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