Baumgartner Back on the Podium, Pare fifth in Erzurum

Olympic gold medalist Nick Baumgartner raced to a third place finish at the FIS snowboard cross World Cup stop in Erzurum, Turkey on Saturday morning, breaking his two and a half year World Cup podium drought.

All six Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team men qualified through to the round of heats which set the team up for a jam-packed morning of competition. Despite great racing, Olympian Hagen Kearney, Senna Leith and Cody Winters fell in the eight final round while teammates Baumgartner, 2024 FIS Rookie of the Year Nathan Pare and Olympian Jake Vedder punched their ticket to quarterfinals. Vedder was unable to snag a top-two spot in a tough quarterfinal heat and finished 11th on the day but Pare and Baumgartner kept the team rolling and both advanced to semifinals.

The draw was on the American's side with Pare and Baumgartner separated in the two semi-final heats. Pare was first to take to the start gate and the young gun showed veteran level composure, going toe-to-toe with the likes of some of the best athletes in the world, including Candada's Eliot Grondin and France's Julien Tomas. Grondin and Tomas best Pare to take the top-two spots in the heat, sending the American to the small final. With a look of intense determination on his face to keep the American's chances of a podium alive, Baumgartner put down a strategic line that earned him second place in his semi-final heat, but more importantly, a spot in the big final.

The Erzurum, Turkey course is a special place for Baumgartner. In 2018 at this same venue, he qualified for his third Olympics just four weeks after breaking his back. Fast forward six years later, the seasoned veteran stepped into the very same start gate to fight for another spot on the podium. With teammates cheering him on at the bottom of the course, the oldest athlete in the field raced to a third place finish, proving that age is just a number.

It’s funny how yesterday I said in an Instagram post that this track doesn’t play to my strengths, but that changed nothing," said Baumgartner, who had also dealt with lost luggage that forced him to race in a different jersey for qualifications. "I had a blast out there, and that energy kept me riding smart and fast. With each round I advanced, I felt that proud, exciting, butterflies-in-my-stomach feeling, half giggle and half tearing up, the kind of feeling you can’t buy, only earn through hard work, discipline, and over coming adversity...and in this case a 2.5 year podium drought."

"What made today even more special was my team," Baumgarter continued. "The way we build each other up and cheer so hard for one another (even when we compete against each other) is exactly why I’m so proud to be part of this group. Huge thanks to my coaches, teammates, PT, doctor, everyone back at the office, and of course, the three amazing techs who put in so much work and passion to make sure our board are lightning fast. Couldn’t do it without you all!"

Baumgartner was followed up in the standings by Pare, who raced to a first place finish in the small final to take fifth overall on the day. The two American's will join forces with teammates Brianna Schnorrbusch and Acy Craig for the first mixed team event of the season on Sunday, Mar. 2nd, at 5:30 a.m. ET.

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