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'Crazy-gnarly' snowboard wins for U.S.
// U.S. Snowboard // October 29, 2004
SAAS FEE, Switzerland. -- In the first World Cup halfpipe competition of the season Steve Fisher (St. Louis Park, Minn.) and Hannah Teter (Belmont, Vt.) overpowered the entire field and challenging conditions to capture double wins for the U.S. team. Fresh snow last night created the dreaded variable condition halfpipe. Rock hard walls built for speed and soft snow in the flats test even the best riders in the world, but couldn’t stand between Teter and Fisher and their respective gold medals.
Coach Bud Keene says, “The pipe was the best it has been (for the contest). The shape was good and all in all it was awesome. Everyone threw down. This was the biggest World Cup ever. The field size and strength was amazing.”
The Teter Family is as close as the snowboarding community comes to royalty. Hannah continues the Teter tradition of innovative and progressive riding as set by her brothers during their last decade of dominance. She is setting the standard for women to follow with her powerful and explosive style. She qualified first yesterday after only twenty minutes of practice and kept the momentum going today to take the top spot by more than five points. Says Teter, (as she battled away her fans so she could answer questions) “It was crazy-gnarly weather, the pipe was kinda crazy but better than yesterday. Everyone was riding well, the level was definitely up. I kept it mellow.” The reader should note that “mellow” to Teter included a corked seven and five. Second place finisher Doriane Vidal of France and third place Soko Yamaoka of Japan were separated by a margin of little more than two points.
Fisher’s Tahitian summer vacation seems to be working for him. An easygoing competitor who only had three practice runs led the entire event. This is Fisher’s second consecutive World Cup win. “I’m on fire, baby! I’m on fire!” shouted Fisher when asked about his results. “The weather was total junk; it was sleeting during the contest. The pipe was not the best but builder Dave Ny worked hard and turned it around for the contest. I felt like rough when I got up this morning, but I kept it smooth and that’s all it took.” Fisher also noted many new Japanese men in the mix. “They were totally dominating during practice. No one knew what was going to happen.” The podium was rounded out with Germany's Jan Michaelis and Kim Christiansen of Norway.
SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP
Saas Fee, Switzerland
Men's Halfpipe
1. Steve Fisher, St. Louis Park, Minn., 42.7
2. Jan Michaelis, Germany, 36.5
3. Kim Christiansen, Norway, 36.3
4. Kazuhiro Kokubo, Japan, 36.2
5. Takahiro Ishihara, Japan, 35.5
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14. Tommy Czeschin, Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
24. Elijah Teter, Belmont, Vt.
34. Abram Teter, Belmont, Vt.
Women's Halfpipe
1. Hannah Teter, Belmont, Vt., 43.1
2. Doriane Vidal, France, 37.7
3. Soko Yamaoka, Japan, 35.6
4. Mero Narita, Japan, 30.6
5. Lisa Wiik, Norway, 28.6
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7. Lindsey Jacobellis, Bondville, Vt.
12. Elena Hight, Zephyr Cove, Nev.
16. Tricia Byrnes, Stratton, Vt.
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