PR: Sadeghi Takes Women's U.S. Halfpipe Title
(March 28, 1997)

JUNE MOUNTAIN, Calif. - Sabrina Sadeghi (Aspen, Colo.), coming back this season from knee injuries which kept her out of the '96 nationals, won the women's halfpipe title at the X-nix U.S. Snowboard Championships Friday at June Mountain. Jessica Zaluskey (Big Bear, Calif.) finished second, with Cammy Potter (Park City, Utah) third.

Eight athletes moved up from the morning's elimination round of competition to compete in the afternoon finals. The eight competitors took two runs each, with the scores from both runs added together to determine the winner.

"It feels really good to come back and have a good year after being down on my luck with my injuries, so I'm really happy," said Sadeghi, who missed competition during the '95-96 season due to a torn ACL in her right knee. Sadeghi, the '95 FIS World Cup women's halfpipe champion, won her last U.S. halfpipe title in 1994, when the championships were also held at June Mountain.

"Yeah, there was definitely a time when I thought I wouldn't come back," said Sadeghi of her injuries. After tearing the ACL in her right knee in August of '95, Sadeghi re-injured her knee this past November, knocking her out of competition until January. Since January, Sadeghi has been on track with strong World Cup results. "It's really frustrating to be out, and look at your life and say, 'I don't know if I'm going to be able to do what I want to do.' But it's amazing how your body heals and you come back even stronger.

"I was just having fun [today]," said Sadeghi of Friday's performance. "I threw a few good tricks. I was having a dilemma at the top [of the pipe] about whether I should throw it all or play it conservative, and I decided to play it conservative and I think I'm glad!" Sadeghi wins $1,100 in prize money for her U.S. title, with Zaluskey winning $700 for second, and Potter winning $500 for third.

Competition at the X-nix U.S. Snowboard Championships concludes Saturday with men's halfpipe.

X-NIX U.S. SNOWBOARD CHAMPIONSHIPS
MAMMOTH/JUNE MOUNTAIN, Calif.
FRI., MAR. 28, 1997 (top 8 from finals)

WOMEN'S HALFPIPE
1. Sabrina Sadeghi, Aspen, Colo., 51.8 points
2. Jessica Zaluskey, Big Bear, Calif., 48.1
3. Cammy Potter, Park City, Utah, 47.3
4. Annemarie Uliasz, Huntington Beach, Calif., 46.1
5. Kim Stacey, Stratton, Vt., 45.1
6. Griselda Gonzalez, Saratoga, Calif., 41.0
7. Katrina Warmick, Salt Lake City, Utah, 33.7
8. Catherine Nieves, Carrabassette Valley Academy, 29.9

Other News From the X-Nix:
PR: Greenwood, Fletcher Repeat As US Champions At June Mt. (3-28-97)
PR: Greenwood, Fletcher Take Slalom Titles At X-Nix (3-27-97)