FIS World Cup:
Powers, Byrnes Capture Second Straight World Cup Wins
January 14, 1999

ASAHIKAWA, Japan (Feb. 14) - Ross Powers (S. Londonderry, VT) and Tricia Byrnes (New Canaan, CT) widened their leads at the top of the season long World Cup halfpipe standings with their victories in Sunday's snowboard competition in Asahikawa, Japan.

It was the second straight sweep of a World Cup halfpipe competition by the two American riders after both Powers and Byrnes stood at the top of the podium at last weekend's World Cup competition in Park City, Utah. Both Powers and Byrnes lead in their respective season long World Cup halfpipe standings by over 700 points.

Byrnes finished Sunday's contest with a score of 38.9, more than two full points ahead of her closest competitor Doriane Vidal of France (36.2). Sweden's Anna Hellman was third at 35.0. Kim Stacey (Stratton Mtn., VT), a second place finisher at the Park City World Cup last week, finished 17th with a score of 18.5.

Powers, a bronze medalist at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano Japan last year, dominated the competition with a score of 44.7. U.S. teammate Tommy Czeschin (Crowley Lake, CA), a second place finisher at last week's Park City World Cup, reached the podium as well with his third place finish at 41.6. Japan's Shinichi Watanabe was second at 42.0. Zach Horwitz (Carbondale, CO) and Chris Nelson (Mammoth Lakes, CA) also cracked the top-10, finishing 6th and 7th respectively.

The World Cup snowboarding schedule stays in Japan for more halfpipe action Feb. 18 - 20.

Results

Men's

1. Ross Powers, S. Londonderry, VT, 44.7
2. Shinichi Watanabe, JPN, 42.0
3. Tommy Czeschin, Crowley Lake, CA, 41.6
4. Fredrik Sterner, SWE, 40.2
5. Sebastien Vassoney, FRA, 35.8
6. Zach Horwitz, Carbondale, CO, 35.8
7. Chris Nelson, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 35.2

Women's

1. Tricia Byrnes, New Canaan, CT, 38.9
2. Doriane Vidal, FRA, 36.2
3. Anna Hellman, SWE, 35.0