Jacobellis falls, Frieden of Switzerland gets gold
February 17th, 2006
By Getty Images
BARDONECCHIA, Italy (Feb. 17) - Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT) won the inaugural silver medal in the Olympic Women's Snowboardcross event Friday afternoon in Bardonecchia.
Tanja Frieden of Switzerland won the gold medal, with the bronze going to Dominique Maltais of Canada.
Jacobellis, the lone American rider in the field, led for most of the final run before crashing while trying to showboat on a jump on the lower portion of the course. Leading by a good margin, Jacobellis pulled a small, albeit stylish, method air and sketched her landing by catching her heelside edge, causing her to sit down.
Frieden had no problem cruising past Jacobellis to earn the gold. Jacobellis got up and still finished ahead of Maltais and Maelle Ricker, also from Canada.
"I was gonna try grabbing method or indy, whatever came first," said Jacobellis. "My front hand came down first, so I tried to grab, but it just didn't work."
Jacobellis frequently grabs her board while in the air as the lower center of gravity and feel of the deck add stability.
"I was a little frustrated when I fell because I was trying really hard all day not to be thrown by that jump," said Jacobellis. "Over the second to last jump, I tried a grab to stabilize myself in the air, and it didn't work."
"At first I was a little bit angry," Jacobellis said. "But, I came to the Olympics to do my best and have fun. It was a really good course. No one got hurt today, which is also a plus."
After biffing on the method air landing, Jacobellis jokingly added "As a freestyler, I bow my head in shame."
Jacobellis had the best start of her day in the finals and jumped out to an early lead. She distanced herself from the pack as the other three riders got held up.
"All of a sudden, Lindsey had this humongous lead," said U.S. coach Peter Foley. "She got through all of the hardest stuff and just landed that jump a little bit off balance. She grabs her board on lots of the jumps, because that's a stable position for her. I dont know if she held the grab just a little bit too long on that jump and that's what set her off on the weird edge."
Jacobellis was not aware of how big a lead she had and after sitting down thought that all three girls would pass her.
"I thought everyone was right behind me, and I thought I missed a chance at any podium spot."
The snowboardcross made its Olympic debut Thursday with the men's event. U.S. rider Seth Wescott (Carrabassett Valley, ME) won gold.
The event features four riders starting at the same time and racing down a course that is full of jumps, turns, berms and gates. Frequent crashes, along with the racing and freestyle elements, make for an interesting spectator sport.
"Anything can happen in snowboardcross, that's just part of the game," said Jacobellis.
Jacobellis' silver was the eighth total medal for U.S. skiers and snowboarders. Six have come from snowboarding, one from alpine skiing and one from freestyle.
Olympic snowboard events wrap up with parallel giant slalom races. The men run on Feb. 22 and the women race on the 23rd in Bardonecchia.
XX OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Bardonecchia, ITA - Feb. 17, 2006
Women's Snowboardcross
1. Tanja Frieden, Switzerland
2. Lindsey Jacobellis, Stratton Mountain, Vt.
3. Dominique Maltais, Canada
4. Maelle Ricker, Canada
5. Mellie Francon, Switzerland
