U.S. Sweeps Snowboardcross At X Games
ASPEN, CO (Jan. 28) – Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA), Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, MI) and Jayson Hale (Sierraville, CA) led U.S. Snowboarding to a clean sweep of the snowboardcross podium at Winter X Games. Alex Deibold (Manchester Center, VT) was next in fourth, demonstrating the depth of the U.S. team. Holland's time of 1:27.57 was a commanding half second ahead of Baumgartner's 1:28.01. Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT) injured her knee two days before the event and was not able to defend her title, breaking her streak at four consecutive wins. Canadian Dominque Maltais won the women's event.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Nate Holland won his fifth X Games snowboardcross gold
- Nick Baumgartner, who won gold in 2011, earned silver
- Jayson Hale took bronze for the second time in his X Games career (2006)
- Alex Deibold finished fourth behind his three teammates giving U.S. Snowboarding a 1-2-3-4 finish
QUOTES
Nate Holland
It always feels great to be on top. I knew I just had to ride my heart out and back my words up and I was able to do that. I am fired up to be back on top.
I was able to catch up to Stian (Sivertzen, Norway) but I wasn’t able to pass him. Then Pierre Vaultier came up and I knew it was going to be a battle. We went in the next turn and Stian went down and I made it out of the carnage. It was so beautiful to see the finish line without Nick Baumgartner in front of me.
Nick Baumgartner
I was doing everything I could to hang on and get myself in position where if something should happen I could capitalize on it. It wasn’t the way I wanted to get second, but I will take it.
Jayson Hale
It was my typical X Games race, always scrapping from the back and passing hoping to get up front. Scrapping and passing and finally drafting. I am stoked to be on the podium with these boys. Nate and I haven’t been on a podium together since 2006, so it feels pretty good to be back up here.
RESULTS
Official results
