Heading into the fifth day of competition at the Torino 2006 Games, here’s some quick news items:
American Seth Wescott will be practicing today for tomorrow’s Men’s Snowboard Cross (SBX) event. This will be the first Games where SBX is an event and, as the 2005 World Cup Snowboard Cross Champion, is surely the competitor that everyone will be watching.
The U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team is already off to a great start. Shawn White and Danny Kass took gold and silver, respectively, in the Men’s Halfpipe on Sunday and were followed by Hannah Teeter and Gretchen Bleiler taking gold and silver in the Women’s Halfpipe on Monday. And just in case it seems that snowboarding is becoming mainstream, check out this funny article about the girls ducking a rope and riding a closed trail before the finals.
Ted Ligety was the surprise gold medalist in the Men’s Alpine Combined on Tuesday. He had an especially strong second run in the slalom to take the gold. Teammate Bode Miller was leading after the downhill event, but straddled a gate during his first slalom run and was disqualified.
Downhiller Lindsey Kildow will compete in today’s Women’s Downhill event, recovering from a dramatic crash during training on Monday.
Freestyle skier Jeremy Bloom will compete in today’s Men’s Moguls event.