US Powers, Byrnes Bring Home World Cup Titles

OLANG, Italy, March 13-- Under perfect weather conditions, Ross Powers (S. Londonderry, VT) and Tricia Byrnes (New Canaan, CT) finished off the World Cup snowboard season with an exclamation point Saturday in front of 2,000 spectators as they each won their fourth consecutive halfpipe contests, solidifying their spots at the top of the season long World Cup halfpipe standings.

Powers and Byrnes had dominated the World Cup scene throughout the year, and Saturday's win earned both riders the coveted globe and a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle.

"This is really good," Powers said. "I'm happy with the whole year and here just made it all happen. I was really tired before this trip and had to go home to kind of relax, did some training, got healthy again (I kind of had a cold all year). Then I lost my bags until last night and so I only got my board then, which was good since I just like to ride my own stuff. I hope I'll be able to get the Harley home and if so, I will get my motorcycle license."

Matthieu Justafre from France finished second ahead of Zach Horwitz (Carbondale, CO). Tommy Czeschin (Crowley Lake, CA) finished in fourth place, but ended the season second overall behind Powers.

"There was little bit of extra incentive today due to the Harley because we're all here and wanted it," Byrnes said. "To be honest I'm a little scared to drive it, but maybe I'll learn. Every contest has been a big challenge and this is a big award. It was hard today because it's so hard to judge the walls while they are always changing, they're melting, the snow is falling down, so you've got to be always focused and make sure you're on it."

Valerie Bourdier of France went into second ahead of World champion Kim Stacey (Stratton Mtn., VT) who finished third in Saturday's competition and the overall standings. Doriane Vidal (FRA) was the unlucky bird, missed the super finals and ended up fourth but took second place overall ahead of Stacey.

The World Cup finals will conclude with the snowboard cross on Sunday.
World Cup Snowboarding
Olang, ITA - March 13

Women's Halfpipe
1. Tricia Byrnes, New Canaan, CT), 38.8
2. Valerie Bourdier, FRA, 36.0
3. Kim Stacey, Stratton Mtn., VT
4. Doriane Vidal, FRA

Men's Halfpipe
1. Ross Powers, S. Londonderry, VT, 44.0
2. Matthieu Justafre, FRA, 37.9
3. Zach Horwitz, Carbondale, CO, 37.7
4. Tommy Czeschin, Crowley Lake, CA, 37.4

Men's Final Standings
1. Powers, 7090
2. Czeschin, 5660
3. Fredrik Sterner, SWE, 4960
4. Horwitz, 3970
5. Marcus Jonsson, SWE, 2530

Women's Final Standings
1. Byrnes, 7400
2. Vidal, 5900
3. Stacey, 5400
4. Sabine Wehr-Hasler, GER, 3860
5. Anna Hellman, SWE, 3800