ASPEN — Rolling down the hill, Lindsey Jacobellis and Nate Holland were able to win gold again in boardercross Saturday at the Winter X Games. Both trailed in their final runs going into the critical roller section of the lengthy course, but the double jump gave them the momentum they needed to reach the top of the podium.
Boardercross provided its usual crashes, but the finals also provided a couple of firsts. Holland became the first in X Games history to win an event five consecutive years, while Jacobellis became the first to record a three-peat on two occasions. Both are considered favorites heading into the Vancouver Olympics. A crash in the second men’s semifinal delayed the start of the women’s final, something an already sickly Jacobellis didn’t need. Helene Olafsen of Norway got the jump out of the gate, and the top-seeded Jacobellis was behind from the start.
“Having to wait in the gate never feels too good,” said Jacobellis, who woke up Saturday feeling congested. “Helene got a great start, and I was like, ‘Now I’ve got to go track her down.’ “
Jacobellis did so on the technical roller section, where she was able to take her momentum from a double jump past Olafsen, who got bogged down in the series of small hills.
Holland made his move in the same section as reigning Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott was struggling to keep his lead.
“I came into those rollers and pretty much lost all control and got into the wrong line,” Wescott said.
In the men’s semifinal, American Graham Watanabe had a crash that took out five riders. Holland, who was trailing, was able to snake past.
“I believe I went over the top of one of the riders in the last couple of rollers trying to avoid everything,” Holland said. “I was in a really somber mood at the gate, but I tried to keep up my intensity.”
Familiar faces.
Tonight’s ski superpipe finals will have a Colorado flavor as three of the eight finalists are from this state. Breckenridge’s Duncan Adams and Colby West will be joined by Aspen’s Peter Olenick. The 17-year-old Adams secured the final spot during elimination, while West qualified in sixth and Olenick seventh.
Footnotes.
Halldor Helgason of Iceland won the snowboard big air event, which went to the best- rated trick in a 20-minute session Saturday night. . . . Event officials announced a one-day crowd of 34,500 on Saturday.
David Krause, The Denver Post
