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FIS Snowboard World Championships at Whistler 2005

Dateline:12/01/2005 See All News Topics

FIS World Championship @ Whistler Jan 15-22, 2005

Day 6, HP Finals

January 22, 2005 - Whistler, B.C., Canada. Antti Autti of Finland soared to a gold medal in the Halfpipe (HP) event, thrilling the fans with a near-perfect first run score of 47.7. It was Autti's second gold medal of the event, tying him with Canada's Jasey-Jay Anderson for the individual medal lead, after also winning yesterday's Province Big Air contest. Kim Christiansen of Norway took the bronze.

Canadian rider Justin Lamoureux wrapped up a hugely successful World Championships in dramatic fashion tonight with a silver medal in the Halfpipe competition, helping Canada win the World Championship medal count in front of five thousand cheering fans. Canada finished with five medals at the event, including two gold medals, giving the host country the edge over Austria's total of one gold, a silver, and three bronze medals.

The American Women's team was well represented in the finals with Hannah Teter, Tricia Byrnes and Lindsey Jacobellis making it to the final eigth. Hannah took the podium in third place, Tricia just missed out with fourth, and Lindsey placed 8th out of a field of 24 riders. US Men's rider Luke Wynen finish 8th in the finals.

"What a great week for Canada and the sport of snowboarding," said Mark Taylor, vice president of IMG Action Sports and president of the organizing committee for the 2005 FIS Snowboard World Championships. "Everyone here; the athletes, the course workers, the people of Whistler, they all contributed to make this one of the most memorable Snowboard World Championships ever."

Day 5, BA Finals

January 21, 2005 - Whistler, B.C., Canada. The rain let up at the 2005 FIS Snowboard World Championships on Friday just in time for Big Air competition, and a large crowd of cheering fans saw first-hand why the high-flying event is a favorite of snowboarding fans everywhere.

Antti Autti of Finland led after the first round and he didn't let up the rest of the way to take the gold medal, despite some tight competition from silver medallist Matevz Petek and bronze medal winner Andreas Jakobsson, as well as his Finnish teammates Jukka Eratuli and Risto Mattila.

Canadians Neil Connolly and Brad Martin were in the hunt, finishing in sixth and eighth positions, respectively, in the final standings.

Tomorrow is the final day of competition at the 2005 FIS Snowboard World Championships and it ends with a bang, with qualifying action for the Halfpipe in the morning followed by the Finals under the lights.

Day 4, PSL Finals

The Parallel Slalom (PSL) at the FIS Nokia Snowboard World Championships took place at Whistler-Blackcomb, B.C., on Wednesday, January 19, 2005. The day began like the previous day had ended, with rain, rain, more rain, and melting snow. The PSL course, similar to but shorter than the Parallel Giant Slalom, was well designed and constructed. To keep it in racing condition, it was maintained by an army of a crew that worked ceaselessly against the elements. It was with that kind of dedication that the race organizers at Whistler were able to put on a great race in spite of the nasty weather that was thrown at them.

Like the race crews, all the competitors faced the weather with grace and fortitude. The racers and spectators wished for snow, but the Pineapple Express continued its onslaught. Each heat wore down the wet course, so the gates became more and more banked making things increasingly challenging for all the racers. American competitor Rosey Fletcher commented that it felt more like bobsledding than snowboarding. The weather conditions made for unusually intense excitement as the racers popped out of the gates and flew down the course. The American Women's team had three racers in the top 16, and Rosey Fletcher was able to make it to the final four. The American Men's team member Justin Reiter made it into the final 16.

The Canadian Men's team had another successful day in the PSL with Jasey-Jay Anderson taking his second gold medal in as many days. He beamed his warm smile to the crowd at the completion of each heat after giving it his all racing down the soggy course. Anderson finished first in every race of his final four heats, against very stiff competition. The crowd was thrilled and screamed each time the Canadian crossed the finish line. Seeing Jasey-Jay win the gold was a golden reward in itself for all who endured the bad weather to see the world's best in snowboarding.

At the starting line

Cutting the gate

Looking for the next one

Keeping it all together

Parallel Slalom Action

Stacia Hookom (USA) charging towards the finish

Lisa Kosglow (USA) in the finish area

Justin Reiter (USA) after a good run

Chris Klug (USA) after the race

Jasey-Jay Anderson (CAN) with umbrella after one of many good races

Rosey Fletcher (USA) after the race moving up in the finals

Daniela Meuli (SUI) in the finish area

Rosey Fletcher (USA) on the stage with a fourth place finish

PSL Women's top three finishers, Neururer (AUT) 2, Meuli (SUI) 1, Krings (AUT) 3

Jasey-Jay Anderson (CAN) Gold medal winner in Men's PSL

Day 3, PGS Finals

January 18, 2005 - Whistler, B.C., Canada. The weather did not cooperate for the running of the Parallel Giant Slalom (PGS) but the competitors were still ready. Very un-seasonally warm temperatures and rain made the well designed course a foggy slip'n slide. Competitors and spectators alike endured the rains with great spirits and umbrellas.

The Canadian team enjoyed the day with Jasey Jay Anderson bringing home the Gold in the Men's final. American men's team member Adam Smith finished in fourth place, but Chris Klug and women's team Michelle Gorgone did not make it out of the 1/8 final.

The post-competition award's ceremony was well done, honoring the day's victors on the Nokia stage with plaques, medals, and flowers amid plenty of smiles.

The course was well designed

The gates were challenging

The competition was fierce

The finish line

Chris Klug after finishing a preliminary run

The wet course made the turns treacherous

Jasey-Jay Anderson gives friendly hand shake at the end of an early heat

Top four women finishers

Enjoying the victory

Adam Smith (#27) finishes fourth

Top men's winners

World Champion Canadian Jasey Jay Anderson

The post finish interview

Day 2, SBX Finals

January 16, 2005 - Whistler, B.C., Canada. It was a great day for the Finals of the Nokia Snowboard FIS World Championships 2005 SBX. New snow had fallen overnight and visibility was excellent at race time.

The Women's competition presented a great match-up for the crowd, with Canadian Maltais Dominique in first seed and USA's Lindsey Jacobellis in second seed. But it would be Lindsey's day. With her steady style and comfort on the jumps, she rode to a first place finish in the Championships by winning all three of her heats today. Canadian Maelle Ricker placed third in the Final, and Maltais placed fourth after first place finishes in the ¼ and ½ Finals.

Other Americans proved successful as well. Seth Wescott was a dominating racer today, quickly making his presence known by placing first in each of his preliminary heats. The crowd seemed to know it was going to be Seth's day as he easily took the championship round with a clean and decisive win. Canada's Francois Boivin placed second in the Final, and USA's Jason Hale finished third.

The Parallel Slalom is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, but weather may be a factor on the course as rain is in the forecast. Think snow.

Women's heat leaving the starting gates

Down the course into the first turn

Seth Wescott getting ready in the starting area with iPod

Men's action at the top of the course

It is important to get out early in SBX

Tight action as they head into the first turn

Seth after a successful semi-final run

Lindsey Jacobellis at the final jump to the finish line

Seth showing some style on the last jump

Lindsey goes even higher to her first place finish

Lindsey in the finish area

Seth on the last jump to his first place finish

Success!

Top three women finishers, Ruby of France 2, Jacobellis USA 1, Ricker of Canada 3

Lindsey Jacobellis SBX World Champion

At great day for Lindsey and US Snowboarding

Seth Wescott (USA) SBX World Champion and it feels good, Francois Boivin (CAN) 2, and Jayson Hale (USA) 3

Day 1, SBX Qualifications

January 15, 2005 - Whistler Canada. The FIS World Championships are off and running. Currrent News, the SBX (Snowboard Cross) made qualification runs with good weather and a great course. Lindsey Jacobellis had a great day with only .15 seconds separating her from first in the qualification round. Leslee Olson ran well and finished in the top half of the group.

Whistler is putting on a good show with the opening ceremonies and a night time rail session. The crowd gathered at Base II to watch the Canadian team take on the International boys. Even Ronald McDonald made an appearance in the "throw down" competition.

Weather looks good for tomorrow's finals, but it may be a problem later in the week as rain and high temperature are predicted to move in.