Westbound Boarder

Today and throughout the week, the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver continued … So far, I have really enjoyed watching the events I have been able to watch.  Growing up as a little girl, the ice skating was always my favorite; that is, until snowboarding was added to the roster.  And the past couple of days were all about snowboardcross.

Yesterday, US rider Seth Wescott dominated the men’s Boardercross finals yesterday, winning the gold over Canada’s Mike Robertson by a matter of fractions of seconds and earning him bragging rights as the only snowboarder to ever win a gold medal in the Olympic Games snowboardcross event since it’s 2006 introduction.  He had a shaky run during his timed run (which determined his place at the start line, which can sometimes make or break a snowboarder’s run) so it was good to see him redeem himself and come out on top in the medal round.

This morning, though, the women took center snow, however, they didn’t have quite the start they would have liked.  The women’s Boardercross prelims were set to begin at 10:30, but were delayed due to inclement weather at Cypress Mountain (apparently that seems to be a trend this season?)  By noon, though, the fog had lifted, and the prelims finally began; but not without its fair share of twists and turns (and no, I’m not talking about just the course).

Throughout the past couple of months (and arguably, years), Lindsey Jacobellis emerged as the shining star of Boarder Cross.  Four years ago during the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Lindsey suffered a disappointing fate.  She was pulling first throughout the duration of her run, and on the last jump she opted for celebratory style points instead of playing it safe and tweaked out a styish method, only to catch an edge and fall … essentially handing the gold away on a silver platter.  This year, Lindsey had hoped (and most had expected) to redeem herself, however, she didn’t even make the medal round.  During the snowboardcross event prelims, Lindsey clumsily fell over a jump, lost her balance, flew off one of the berms and crashed into a gate, ending any shot she had at a podium finish.

I find this so unfortunate, namely becase Lindsey has worked so hard to redeem herself from her last Olympic mishap.  And she really has proven herself, winning comp after comp the past few years (even several X Games titles), but when it comes to the one that really matters, a slight mishap cost her years of training.  Boardercross isn’t like most Olympic events, namely because it mixes a little bit of talent with a little bit of luck.  This time around, Lindsey’s bad luck came back to haunt her, costing her the gold, as well as her shot at redeeming herself in the public eye from 2006.

However, the good news is that three ladies did bring home medals to their respective countries, with Canada’s own Maelle Ricker taking home the gold.  Ricker saw her own douse of bad luck in the 2006 games, crashing and suffering a severe concussion.  But this year was her moment to shine, as she easily defeated her competitors and rode across the finish line with the Gold in sight.  France’s Deborah Anthonioz won the silver, while Olivia Olafsen from Switzerland took home the bronze.  Nice job ladies!

USA’s own Seth Wescott finished 1st at Cypress Mountain yesterday afternoon as he entered Vancouver with a pelvic injury, Seth could barely walk nor was he riding all to well because of it. With all things considered, Gold did not seem to be on Wescott’s side. However the opportunity to defend his Snowboardercross gold in the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics was motivation enough, apparently.

He started the race on the outside, a tough place to be. Beginning it all in fourth and in less than two minutes he worked his way to first. Early in the race Wescott lingered behind the other three riders, USA’s Nate Holland, Canadian rider Mike Robertson and Tony Ramoin of France. The cruise for Prescott from the front to the back began when Holland spun out and ended the race for himself. He passed Ramoin, and neared Robertson through his riskier lines. Wescott passed him in the air and was able to win the race with Robertson in his blind spot only a hare behind him!

This USA vistory makes Wescott the first American skier/snowboarder since 1952 to take home two Golds. He proudly ended the race boasting the flag given to his family from the U.S. military on behalf of his Grandfather, the same flag he proudly draped in honor of his grandfather in 2006 in Turin!