TELLURIDE — In the world of halfpipe snowboarding, Ross Powers has long been a force to be reckoned with. The two-time Olympic medalist and leader of the U.S. podium sweep at Salt Lake 2002 is recognized as owner of more halfpipe titles than any rider in history.
But in snowboardcross racing — not so much.
That stat may soon change, however, if the 30-year-old continues his rapid rise in the frenzied racing discipline that pits four riders at once on a chaotic course of banked turns, rollers and gap jumps.
Powers was the top American finisher at Saturday’s FIS World Cup snowboardcross event, riding to third place in a men’s field crammed with American competitors hoping to qualify for the 2010 Olympic team.
Five U.S. men — including 2006 Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott of Sugarloaf, Maine — finished in the top nine at the second of five Olympic qualifying contests this season, but only Powers was able to work his way through all four rounds of racing to land on the podium behind winner Pierre Vaultier of France and Canada’s Robert Fagan.
“The first few rounds were good, but it got heavy quick,” Powers said. “The final race, I had been getting great starts all day but got a bad start in that one. I tried to catch up but landed flat on everything. Luckily, the guys had a little mix-up in turn four, and I came through and got on the podium.”
While Powers offers a nod to good fortune for his performance Saturday, the result offers evidence of his prowess as an athlete. The bronze medalist at snowboarding’s Olympic halfpipe debut in 1998 returned to take the gold in 2002 before serving as the team alternate in Turin 2006. There, he watched his friend Wescott win the gold in the first Olympic snowboardcross race, motivating Powers to take a stab at the sport.
The veteran pipe star worked his way up to the World Cup level over the course of a year competing in snowboardcross’ minor leagues, then placed third in his first World Cup start at Sunday River, Maine, last February.
As a result, his second World Cup podium came as no shock to U.S. snowboardcross coach Peter Foley.
“Ross has been riding that fast all along, so it’s not surprising,” Foley said. “The transition from pipe to boardercross is tough, and it took Ross a while.”
Saturday’s race was a disappointing one for America’s top female rider, Lindsey Jacobellis. The 2006 Olympic silver medalist failed to advance past the first round and finished 11th overall, three places behind teammate Faye Gulini.
After taking early control of her heat, Jacobellis allowed eventual race winner Maelle Ricker of Canada to sneak past in the lower section of the course and crashed as the riders clicked snowboards. Jacobellis had the wind knocked out of her but was eventually able to finish the run.
Simona Meiler of Switzerland finished second in the race, followed by Canadian Dominique Maltais.
Scott Willoughby: 303-954-1993 or swilloughby@denverpost.com
