March 2, 2002

So, we�re still here in Japan, knee-deep in blood, me and Foster, slaying the slimy serpent of this Nippon Open. We spent the afternoon staring into the face of a freezing icy windstorm as riders did damage in the Superpipe. Yesterday�s marathon qualifier brought 24 shreds out into the fog again this morning to battle it out on the way to Sunday�s grand finale.

Xaver Hoffman qualified first for today, surely he�s hoping for a similar spot tomorrow. Photo: Muzzey

Much respect due to the fore-runners, unlucky casualties of the cut, who rode early and got the crowd fired up today. Heikki Sorsa, that vertical-mutant Stefan Karlsson, and Japanese upstart Takumi Suzuki. With the growing crowd at attention, the runs began. Daniel Franck had a couple strong ones, and should be in the final tomorrow. Joining him will likely be Keir Dillon, Therry Brunner, Terrible Andaloo (Trevor Andrew) and Suisse� Dani Costandache. Add in a few more names to make a twelve-man showdown, and that�s my odds for tomorrow. Hopefull\y the pipe will hold. Rio Tahara took a nasty slam this morning, and played dead in the flat of the pipe for a five minute delay, and luckily rose to his feet and the cheers of his loyal fans.

Trevor Andrew, a crowd favorite here in Japan, earns his cheers. McTwist and shout. Photo: Muzzey

Yesterday the women had first dibs on the pipe, but not so today. As the men�s runs finished and time came for women�s pipe training, the weather, had something else in mind. Blasting, freezing, spiking rain, whipped in the wind. Concensus voting in the women competitor�s camp resulted in a re-schedule, and all the ladies will run tomorrow. I think boardercross is over. Somebody won.

Anne Molin-Kongsgaard, fed up with the rain, but ready for the main event. Photo: Muzzey

Tonight there�s a photo shoot, a party in town, and the snowdeck park is getting sessioned heavily. Check back in tomorrow for continued coverage from the Japanese press office.