On paper, Seth Wescott may not look like a viable threat to the snowboardcross crown. But the defending Olympic champion has the experience to back up his potential for another gold medal.
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Olympic contenders: Men's snowboardcross
- February 14, 2010 11:45 PM |
- By Erin Valois
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The men's snowboardcross competition gets under way at 5:53 p.m. ET, on Monday. Here is a breakdown of the competition.
The Contenders
France's Pierre Vaultier was only 18 years old when he finished in 35th place at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. But as his experience grew over the past four years, he started climbing up the World Cup ladder -- taking home the title in 2008 and 2010. But he will have to contend with American Nate Holland, who won seven snowboarding medals in 2006 and finished third to Vaultier in World Cup standings this year.
Graham Watanabe, another U.S. team member to watch, was an alternate in 2006 but told the Chicago Tribune that he considers 2010 his first Olympic appearance. He also has a great way with words.
"Try to imagine Pegasus mating with a unicorn and the creature that they birth," he told the newspaper. "I somehow tame it and ride it into the sky in the clouds and sunshine and rainbows. That's what it feels like."
The Top Five (current World Cup rankings)
1. Pierre Vaultier, France, 4800 points
2. Graham Watanabe, USA, 2120 points
3. Nate Holland, USA, 1860 points
4. Robert Fagan, CAN, 1760 points
5. Nick Baumgartner, USA, 1690 points
Canadian medal hopes
A nine-year veteran, Robert Fagan is Canada's best shot at a medal. Sidelined by a knee injury in 2006, he will get a second chance in Vancouver to prove that he's more than just a top-20 finisher. He is fourth in World Cup standings this year, which is a career best.
Dark horses
On paper, Seth Wescott may not look like a viable threat to the snowboardcross crown. But the defending Olympic champion has the experience to back up his potential for another gold medal. He won the first Olympic snowboard cross competition in 2006 and has dominated the sport since the early 2000s, so don't count out his ability to make a run for the title.
About the Author
- Bruce Arthur Bruce Arthur is the National Post's national sports columnist. A Vancouver native, he has been with the Post since 2001, and a columnist since 2005. He is covering his second Olympics, after the 2008 Games in Beijing. He expects these Games to be slightly less propagandistic, and for China to win slightly fewer medals.
- Joe O'Connor Joe O'Connor is a roving sports feature writer with an open-ended beat. He joined the National Post in 2002, and has spent the past seven years bouncing from sport to sport, offering fresh perspectives and delivering unique stories wherever he goes. Whether it has been getting Don Cherry to open up about his love life; George Chuvalo to talk about heartbreaking loss; or racing down the side of a mountain with former Crazy Canuck, Dave Irwin, the veteran Postie chases a story wherever it leads. Before joining the newspaper he was a two-time silver medalist at the National Magazine Awards. Vancouver will be his first Olympics.
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