Mt. Bachelor hosted FIS Snowboard World Cup
Dateline:04/01/2004 See All News Topics
FIS World Cup @ Mt. Bachelor, March 1-7, 2004
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FIS Snowboard World Cup at Mt. Bachelor March 1-7, 2004
Day Three, Sunday Big Air, March 7, 2004
The sun was out and the crowds lined the course for the Big Air finals. Twelve men competed for the $20,000 in prize money and the FIS World Cup points. Snowboards had three jumps to show the judges their skills, they got to throw out one of the first two jumps, but they had to keep the last one.
With a close point spread, the jumpers had to give all they had on the final runs. The Swiss team took first and third in the finals, the Americans Brent Meyers and Nik Batko took fifth and sixth place. Simon Ax took top spot and also is first in overall point on the World Cup Standing.
The Mt. Bachelor team put on a great event, their hard work all week made for well run races. Scores of volunteers and staff spent hours on the hill prepping courses and running the events. Spectators and races alike enjoyed the World Class mountain and event.
Simon Ax, Takes First Place.
Good friends and competitors.
Mt. Bachelor's Chris Johnston hands out the checks.
FIS World Cup, Big Air finals.
The interview.
Big Air.
The take off.
Landing it.
The ride.
Enjoying the view in the sun.
These boys flew.
And went big.
Making the landing on a beautiful day.
The Starting area.
The Jump.
Day Two, Saturday SBX, March 6, 2004
Can you say Lindsey, because it was her day at Mt. Bachelor. Lindsey Jacobellis is the hottest rider on the US Snowboard team and she just won another FIS World Cup in SBX (Snowboard Cross). Lindsey is 18, a Vermont native, beat out two time Olympian Karine Ruby of France, twice in the last two week. The weather was perfect, clear and cool and made for a good day of racing.
US Snowboard team member Mark Shulz describe the Mt. Bachelor SBX course as the most fun he had had riding at competitions in a long time. The jumps, step-ups, high bank turns and curves were fast and wild as several riders literally flew out of the course on the lower jumps. The SBX format of four rides starting at the same time and racing the course for the top two finishers makes for an exciting time for riders and spectators alike.
Sunday, look to the sky, as the Big Air takes off.
Lindsey Jacobellis, after the race.
Giving the interview.
At the finish line.
Lindsey, flying to the First Place Finish.
On the last hill.
Karine Ruby, after the race.
FIS Finish Line.
Jumps.
Flying High, Look in the trees.
Some Jumps don't land so easy.
Four riders race at the same time on course.
It's better to be in front.
At the Starting Line.
On the race course.
Mark Shulz at the finish area.
At the Starting Gate.
Day One, Friday PGS, March 5, 2004
The first day of racing at Mt. Bachelor was described by Chris Klug, an old Bend local, as a "Classic Day at Mt. Bachelor". The mountain had plenty of cold temps and new snow, but high winds and poor visibility were also abundant. These challenges concerned Coach Frank Kelble, but with the best course prep available, his racers were ready to run.
Two American made it into the PGS Finals, Stacia Hookom and Chris Klug. But the weather gave many of the racers difficulty, the un-even snow and freezing fog sent several racers off course. Michelle Gorgone, a race favorite, had gone out on her first run, so her teammates were using all the course intelligence and luck to get a clean fast run in. Stacia and Chris did not make it to the final round but put in good showings. Chris Klug posed for the cameras and questions with charm and experience of a season veteran. On the course, these racers were competitors but after the race they shared stories and hand shakes.
Saturday the SBX racers look forward to better conditions and a great Mt. Bachelor course.
Michelle Gorgone discussing the course after the race.
Chris Klug after the first run of the finals.
Chris Klug at the Finish.
Chris at the Gate.
The Starting area for the PGS.
In the Gates!
On the Course racing side by side.
Letting it all go.
Chris after the Race.
Getting ready for the first run.
FIS PGS World Cup.
FIS World Cup, Before race day
Athletes from 18 countries will be completing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Since all finish areas are just above the West Village Lodge it's easy to watch more than 140 World class snowboarders compete in PGS, Snowboardcross and Big Air. Go to www.mtbachelor.com to find event schedules.
Giant Slalom (PGS) racers begin qualifying on the Thunderbird Run at Friday 9:30 AM in the hopes of making the finals at 1:00 PM. Among those registered to compete are Bend native and Olympic Bronze medalist Chris Klug, current Bend resident Lynn Ott of the Mt. Bachelor Freeride Team, and Canadian Jasey-Jay Anderson currently the third ranked PGS racer on the World Cup circuit.
In the PGS, racers compete in a head-to-head, two run format. After the first run racers switch courses with the first run winner receiving a start time advantage based on margin of victory from the first run.
The top male and female SBX competitors on the World Cup, Simone Malusa from Italy and Karine Ruby from France, are both registered to compete at Mt. Bachelor beginning at Saturday 10:30 AM. On Mt. Bachelor U.S. team member Lindsey Jacobellis is looking to again beat Ruby, adding to SBX victories in Austria, Japan and the Winter X games. SBX will be contested in the Olympics for the first time in 2006 when the Winter Games are hosted by Turino, Italy.
After her first victory in Japan Jacobellis said, "I'm just thinking about the 2006 Olympics and getting the most experience on these types of World Cup courses. These are the riders that I'll see at the games." Jacobellis won both Women's World Cup SBX events in Japan.
This year the Big Air will be a judged competition with points being awarded toward the overall World Cup title. Better visibility and a title at stake should mean bigger tricks from the competitors. The event starts at 9:30 AM Sunday with finals at 1:00 PM.
Hanah Teter - Chile
Time schedule:
Friday, March 5th: Parallel Giant Slalom Qualification at 9:30 AM
Parallel Giant Slalom Final at 1:00 PM
Saturday, March 6th: Snowboard Cross Qualification at 10:30 AM
Snowboard Cross Final at 1:00 PM
Sunday March 7th: Big Air Qualification at 9:30 AM
Big Air Final at 1:00 PM
The World Cup Big Air from Mt. Bachelor will air on ESPN on April 8 at 11:30 AM PST. Other competitions during the Mt. Bachelor World Cup are a Parallel Giant Slalom Friday, March 5 and a Snowboardcross on Saturday, March 6. Those events will air on ESPN on March 24 at 11:30 AM PST.
Source: Mt. Bachelor & FIS Press Release
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