PARK CITY, Utah (Oct. 11) - U.S. Snowboarding returns to competition this winter charged by the return of top pros Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT), Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO), Steve Fisher (Breckenridge, CO), Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH), Louie Vito (Columbus, OH/Sandy, UT), Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT) and Seth Wescott (Carrabassett Valley, ME).

“We have incredible depth in all of our programs,” said Head Coach Peter Foley. “We have the best coaches in the industry and we’ve been able to continually work with the top pros while helping to develop the best up-and-coming riders in the country. We’ve had excellent growth.”

In three Olympic cycles, U.S. riders have accounted for 14 Olympic medals, including the historic sweep of the podium in men’s halfpipe in 2002 and a best- in-the-world performance of seven medals (three golds) in 2006.

Last season, U.S. Snowboarding tallied three World Championships medals (one gold), 15 World Cup top-3s (six wins), 11 Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix podiums (three wins), two Junior World Championships medals and six X Games medals (three gold).

With the return of nearly the entire ‘07 roster, coaches are expecting another season of continued success.

Halfpipe already underway
Bleiler, the Olympic silver medalist, set the season standard early winning the Abominable Snow Jam halfpipe in July, while Lago took third and owned Best Trick honors for both the quarterpipe and slopestyle competitions. Lago then kept the things rolling, taking second in halfpipe a month later at the New Zealand Open, where he also earned Best Trick awards for halfpipe and quarterpipe.

The Team also got a jump on the World Cup season in New Zealand as Jacobellis and Clair Bidez (Minturn, CO) went 2-3 in the halfpipe opener on Sept. 1. A week earlier Vito and Lizzy Beerman (Weston, CT) each landed second at the Australian Open halfpipe.

“Steve, Gretchen and Tommy [Czeschin; Mammoth Lakes, CA] are proven winners and our young guns in Scotty and Louie are already pushing it,” said Halfpipe Head Coach Mike Jankowski. “We’ve also got Hannah and Molly [Aguirre; Mammoth Lakes, CA] back on snow and riding well after recovering from injury. It’s another solid team.”

The traditional start to the domestic competition season kicks off Dec. 14-15 as Breckenridge, CO, hosts the first stop of the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix.

SBX domination starts early
Jacobellis, a two-time world snowboardcross gold medalist and current World Cup champion, picked up where she left off in March by wining the World Cup SBX season opener in Chile, less than a month after her halfpipe podium in New Zealand. She, along with X Games gold medalist Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA) and Olympic gold medalist Wescott anchor the deepest Team in the world.

A mid-season broken forearm sidelined Wescott from most off-season training, but the world champion was back on snow in Chile and regaining strength. Holland, who finished runner-up in the World Cup standings last season, has vowed to upgrade to a bigger crystal globe.

“This Team has a good long-term plan and we’ve got a good group of riders to work with,” added Foley, who personally oversees the SBX program. In that group is a pair of talented young riders in Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Girdwood, AK) and Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, MI). Each captured their first U.S. championship and first World Cup podium last season.

Alpine regrouped and tight
A relatively young alpine squad spent a good part of the off-season gaining strength and cohesion. According to Alpine Head Coach Steve Persons, it worked. Leading the group is 2002 Olympic bronze medalist Chris Klug (Aspen, CO), who will compete in his 17th World Cup season (including the defunct International Snowboard Federation tour).

Alongside Klug are Justin Reiter (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Tyler Jewell (Sudbury, MA), who both posted solid results at the ‘07 World Championships. Headlining the women’s roster is Michelle Gorgone (also Sudbury), who is a proven World Cup podium finisher.

“This team has gained a lot in the last year and we’re ready to punch it. Last year was about getting more World Cup experience and learning to work as a team again. It’s time to take that forward. The goal is to put as many riders in the top 10 as possible. Once you get there, you get podiums, more World Cup starting spots and better chances,” Persons said.

The alpine season begins Oct. 12 with the annual indoor parallel slalom held at SnowWorld in the Netherlands. Lake Placid, NY, will represent the U.S. World Cup swing for the fourth consecutive season when Whiteface hosts parallel giant slalom and SBX during the Visa U.S. Snowboarding Cup March 1-3.