US Snowboard Team

Jet Lag: No Problem for Gorgone

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. (Dec. 20) - The U.S. Snowboard Team's women continued their domination of the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix at Breckenridge Monday with Michelle Gorgone (Sudbury, MA) grabbing the parallel giant slalom crown. After a weekend of freestyle high marking, the racers demonstrated the versatility of the Team and the gulf between a halfpipe event and PGS.

The board is ridden sideways, but it may be the only similarity between the disciplines. The training, the stance, the clothing, even the language - those things are a world apart. The P in PGS stands for Parallel, and that means Head to Head to you and me. Or in super laymen's terms - you can tell who won because they crossed the line first. No clock watching necessary - the winner is immediately clear to all. Exciting!

The disciplined racers were on the stage today, and they did deliver. Most stepped off a plane from Europe and were dealing with jet lag and the windy conditions. Gorgone and Lisa Kosglow (Boulder, CO) were the one, two punch any coach would gloat over. Said Gorgone, "I want to go to bed right now. I'm jet lagged; I've been up since 5AM."

Lisa Kosglow denied any disadvantage due to jet lag by declaring, "All the top riders" were dealing with the same challenging schedule. Such sportsmanship! Kosglow added, "Quite honestly, I'm ecstatic with the way today went after a less than stellar trip to Europe. It's true anything can happen." Stacia Hookum (Edwards, CO) claimed 4th- just off the podium but no less sweet.

In the men's event, Peter Thorndike (Meredith, MA) was the top U.S. finisher at 4th. Breathing down his neck was Chris Klug (Aspen, CO) in 5th. In fact, the U.S. Men's team took 8 of the top 14 spots.

Hopefully most are off to a relaxing holiday with family and friends- they've earned it.

Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix
Breckenridge, CO
Parallel Giant Slalom
Women
1. Michelle Gorgone, Sudbury, Mass.
2. Lisa Klosglow, Boulder, Colo.
3. Claudia Riegler, Austria
4. Stacia Hookum, Edwards, Colo.
5. Ursula Fingerlos, Austria
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10. Lynn Ott, Bend, Ore
14. Andi Stump, USA
15. Ashley Nice, USA
16. Serina Eden, USA

Men
1. Nicolas Huet, France
2. Urs Eiselin, Switzerland
3. Jasey Jay Anderson, Canada
4. Peter Thorndike, Meredith, NH
5. Chris Klug, Aspen, Colo.
6. Ryan McDonald, Entiat, Wash.
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8. Tyler Jewell, Sudbury, Mass.
9. Adam Smith, Tangent, Ore.
10. Jeff Greenwood, Boulder, Colo.
11. Justin Reiter, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
12. Joshua Wylie, USA
13. David Manthei, USA
14. Eric Warren, Bennington, Vt.
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16. Zachary Kay, USA.