FIS World Cup:
Powers, Byrnes Continue to Dominate World Cup Halfpipe Tour with 3rd Straight Wins
January 22, 1999

NAEBA, Japan (Feb. 20) - Olympic medalist Ross Powers (S. Londonderry, VT) and Tricia Byrnes (New Canaan, CT) continued to dominate the World Cup halfpipe tour, with each capturing an impressive third straight win in Saturday's competition in Naeba, Japan.

Powers and Byrnes widened their leads in the season long World Cup halfpipe standings after capturing victories in each of the last three competitions. The two riders lead an American dominated halfpipe in Park City, Utah on Feb. 6 where five of the six podium spots were occupied by U.S. riders. Powers and Byrnes followed that with victories in Asahikawa, Japan before dominating Sunday's halfpipe in Naeba.

Not to be outdone, Tommy Czeschin (Crowley Lake, CA) walked away with his third straight podium finish on Saturday, ending the day in second at 42.4 behind Powers (45.0). Kim Stacey (Stratton Mtn., VT), the reigning World champion, added her second podium finish in the last three World Cup competitions, finishing third at 35.4 behind Byrnes (37.8) on Saturday.

"Ross had an amazing final run," said U.S. Head Coach Peter Foley. "He started with a 900 and then finished with his own variation of a 900 McTwist."

Earlier in the day, Anton Pogue (Hood River, ME) captured his first podium finish of the season, crossing the line in third place to lead all U.S. riders in the parallel slalom.

Next up on the World Cup tour is a stop in Austria for snowboard cross, GS and parallel slalom Mar. 5-7.

FIS Snowboard World Cup Naeba, Japan - Feb. 20

Men's Halfpipe
1. Ross Powers, USA, 45.0
2. Tommy Czeschin, USA, 42.4
3. Fredrik Sterner, SWE, 40.2
4. Anders Bjoerck, SWE, 36.0
5. Sebastien Vassoney, FRA, 34.3

Women's Halfpipe
1. Tricia Byrnes, USA, 37.8
2. Doriane Vidal, FRA, 36.8
3. Kim Stacey, USA, 35.4
4. Sabine Wehr-Hasler, GER, 34.3
5. Anna Hellman, SWE, 31.1

Women's Parallel Slalom
1. Marion Posch, ITA
2. Heidi Renoth, GER
3. Manuela Riegler, AUT
4. Dorothee Fournier, FRA

Men's Parallel Slalom
1. Nicolas Huet, FRA
2. Matthieu Bozzetto, FRA
3. Anton Pogue, USA
4. Mathieu Chiquet, FRA