PR: Greenwood, Fletcher Repeat As U.S. Champions At June Mountain
(March 28, 1997)

JUNE MOUNTAIN, Calif. - Jeff Greenwood (Granby, Conn.) and Rosie Fletcher (Girdwood, Alaska) picked up their second U.S. titles at the X-nix U.S. Snowboard Championships in June Mountain Thursday, winning the men's and women's giant slalom. Greenwood and Fletcher won Wednesday's slalom at Mammoth Mountain.

Despite a fall in his first run, Greenwood was the leader by over a second going into the second run. Danish rider Mike Kildevaeld, who stood second behind Greenwood after the first run, rode to the best second run time, but it was not enough to catch Greenwood for the victory. Ian Price (Bromley, Vt.) finished third.

"I slid out on a hillside turn, but I just went with it and kept my speed up - it's a pretty common snowboard mistake," said Greenwood of his first-run fall. "But I was still surprised that I had such a good first-run time. I messed up on top [on the second run], like I didn't want to. It was a lot bumpier - I think it was a combination of the snow [being softer because of warm temperatures] and the salt and the sun."

Fletcher's giant slalom victory at the X-nix U.S. Snowboard Championships caps off a season of international success in GS competition. She rode to a bronze medal in GS at the '97 International Snowboard Federation World Championships in February and a fifth-place finish at the International Ski Federation Snowboard World Championships in January. She also won an FIS World Cup giant slalom in Bardonecchia, Italy at the beginning of March. With such international success, Fletcher has her sights set on Nagano, Japan in '98, where snowboarding will make it's Olympic debut.

"It actually hasn't really hit me yet," said Fletcher when asked her thoughts on the Olympics. "I think that with my experience - I've been competing for five years now - I'm going to try to bring [my riding] to a new level. This year I've just been really consistent and hopefully I can bring [everything] to a new level next year. Yeah, definitely - I'm going to try my hardest [to be on the Olympic team]."

FIS World giant slalom champion Sondra Van Ert (Ketchum, Idaho) was second in women's GS competition, with hometown favorite Erin O'Malley (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) third. Spring temperatures continued to soar Thursday, as competitors and spectators basked in 60-degree weather.

Competition at the X-nix U.S. Snowboard Championships continues at June Mountain Friday with women's halfpipe.

X-NIX U.S. SNOWBOARD CHAMPIONSHIPS
THURSDAY, MAR. 27
MAMMOTH/JUNE MOUNTIAN, Calif.

Men

1. Jeff Greenwood, Granby, Conn., 1:47.36
2. Mike Kildevaeld, Denmark, 1:47.68
3. Ian Price, Bromley, Vt., 1:48.55
4. Steve Persons, Whitefish, Mont., 1:48.85
5. Travis McLain, Snowmass, Colo., 1:49.47
6. Manuel Mendoza, Whitefish, Mont., 1:50.53
7. Thomas O'Brien, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1:51.22
8. Brett Leask, Australia, 1:52.94
9. Jason Onley, Australia, 1:52.96
10. Greg Pajak, Poland, 1:53.04
11. Ryan Mullen, Waterville Valley, N.H., 1:53.80
12. Kevin Blagys, Stowe, Vt., 1:54.17
13. Arn Krebs, Mammoth Lakes, Calif., 1:54.73
14. Bill Enos, Waterville Valley, N.H., 1:55.18
15. T.C. Andrews, Stratton, Vt., 1:57.49

Women

1. Rosie Fletcher, Girdwood, Alaska, 1:56.17
2. Sondra Van Ert, Ketchum, Idaho, 1:57.49
3. Erin O'Malley, Mammoth Lakes, Calif., 2:02.40
4. Pamela Bell, New Zealand, 2:02.81
5. Stacia Hookom, Edwards, Colo., 2:03.49
6. Melissa Tirpak, Northfield, Ohio, 2:05.46
7. Ashley Rice, Santa Ynez, Calif., 2:06.48
8. Linda Richards, Mammoth Lakes, Calif., 2:08.77
9. Kim Stacey, Stratton Mtn., Vt., 2:09.14
10. Susan Hellman, Mammoth Lakes, Calif., 2:09.80
11. Tracy Timmons, Mammoth Lakes, Calif., 2:10.26
12. Jeanne Pogue, Hood River, Ore., 2:10.71
13. Susan Connolly, Frisco, Colo., 2:11.44
14. Andrea Dobrzelewski, Plainwell, Mich., 2:11.45
15. Alexis McGinness, Holmdel, N.J., 2:11.99

Other News From the X-Nix:
PR: Greenwood, Fletcher Take Slalom Titles At X-Nix (3-27-97)