Westbound Boarder

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!

The Olympics are just around the corner, and people are a-buzzing about a couple females prepared to take the throne - namely, Kelly Clark, Hannah Teter, Gretchen Bleiler, and Lindsey Jacobellis.  A few months ago, these women participated in a photo shoot for Glamour Magazine, and the issue finally hit the newsstands this month - Check it!

The spread features two shots of the girls - one where they are dressed in designer black dresses, and another where they are dressed down in their snowboard gear (we all know Gretchen designed her own Oakley line, which she sports in the shot).

Personally, I think its pretty awesome that these four ladies are being recognized for their talent in mainstream publications.  The juxtaposition of the two photos show their classy, feminine side, while also showing their fun, tough side.  This feature shows that you don’t have to be rough around the edges to be an awesome rider - something these women demonstrate to the extreme.

But back to the Olympics … America will be watching in 3 weeks and counting!

For those of you who may not know (or simply overlooked our sidebar) Westbound Boarder is a part of a larger blog network called Women Talk Sports, which brings together blogs and Web sites that support and celebrate women in sports.  A few days ago, the network challenged bloggers to write a post highlighting their favorite moments for women in sports in 2009.  As we here at Westbound Boarder never forego a good challenge, we were happy to participate!  For board sports, though, the real challenge is choosing just a few great moments.

Overall, I think that 2009 was a phenomenal year for women involved in board sports, both on a pro and amateur level.  We saw more women competing in competitions, more women snabbing film parts, and more women being featured in mainstream media, both alone and alongside their male competitors,

Here are some of our favorite moments from 2009:

• In January, the Winter X Games joined the US Open in a move to provide equal prize money for both males and females. In a sport where women have always been viewed as second best, this was a pretty huge feat, setting the stage for a great year ahead.
• Jamie Anderson was named Transworld’s Female Rider of The Year. Who will it be in 2010?
• Years ago, women who participated in board sports received a dismal amount of press, at best. National press, though? Forget about it! But in October, pro riders Gretchen Bleiler, Hannah Teter, Lindsey Jacobellis and Kelly Clark flew to New York for a Glamour magazine cover shoot. As we all know (or those of us who are Glamour addicts, anyway) the magazine cover typically features A-list celebrities - the likes of Carrie Underwood, Britney Spears, and Taylor Swift. To think that mainstream America will see these four women as A-list cover girls is absolutely amazing.
• During the US Open of snowboarding halfpipe competition, Torah Bright won first place - and the $20,000 prize purse - with her third and final run, scoring an overwhelming 96. Though she fell during her first two runs, she persevered and knocked the third out of the park, surpassing Kelly Clark’s 93.3 score.
• Little miss shred Lexi Roland celebrated her tenth birthday. Roland, often compared to Shaun White for starting out at such a young age, filmed her first part at age 6, and has been dominating the sport ever since. We’re so stoked to see her ride in ten years!
• Stan Evans and Jeremy Miller created a snowboard film featuring an all female cast called Stance. One of the first of its kind, Stance featured some of the most progressive riding we had ever seen. Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention Roxy’s Dear and Yonder, a surf film also with a female cast.
• The team for the 2010 Olympics was officially announced. Go US!

While 2009 was an extremely progressive year for women involved in board sports, we would also like to point out some of the challenges women still face.  While a handful of women are stepping up their game in the sport, the rest are largely absent from the competitive circuit, as this New York Times article points out.  So basically, we are seeing four or so women, Bright, Clark, Teter, and and Bleiler, dominating, while the rest really aren’t trying anything new.  What we are also seeing, however, is a number of younger riders who will really take things to the next level in years to come.  Women like Jamie Anderson, and Lexi Roland, who are pushing the sport to its limits and setting the bar high.  Will the decade to come be their moment to shine?  I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, now won’t we?

But enough about us, how about you?  What were your favorite moments for women in action sports of 2009?

Our favorite articles of the week; check ‘em out!

• Flippin’ Chicks Take Over Glamor Mag: A few weeks ago, Gretchen Bleiler, Kelly Clark, Hannah Teter, and Lindsey Jacobellis participated in a photo shoot for Glamor’s Feb. issue.  Check out the photo gallery.
• Shark Attack: This past week near Santa Cruz, CA, pro surfer Eric Geiselman was attacked by a shark.  He came out of the situation unharmed (less a destroyed board) but definitely a good reminder to always be on the lookout while surfing.  Please don’t let it deter you, though, as these types of instances are very few and far between!  Read the full article on FUEL.TV.
• Inside the Transworld Headquarters: A fellow female blogger, Shayboarder, recently toured the Transworld Headquarters, which is pretty close to my neck of the woods in SoCal.  Check out her awesome recap!
• Pamela Anderson Learns To Snowboard? Ha, a must read.

Despite the fact that we are still in the thick of summer, the 2010 Winter Olympics are right around the corner. In less than 6 months Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada, will host the 2010 extravaganza. Consider this your friendly reminder that if you are planning to witness history in B.C. this year, that you better act quickly!

The ladies U.S. Snowboard Team Olympic roster includes hopefuls Hannah Teeter, Elena Hight, Gretchen Bleiler, Lindsey Jacobellis and Kelly Clark (all who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics). Ellery Hollingsworth, also a 2010 hopeful, has never been to the Olympics, although is no stranger to the sport. Check out her specs and accomplishments to see for yourself. No matter who makes the team, these stunnas will not disappoint the US of A, that is fersure.