SIERRA-NEVADA, Spain (March 11) - Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA) claimed his first World Cup victory in snowboard cross Friday further boosting the U.S. bid to dominate the sport debut in the 2006 Olympic Games.

Holland leading Xavier Delarue (left) and Radoslan Zidek (right) (credit: FIS)

After a slow start this season due to a nagging ankle injury earned in Japan last year, Holland has been consistently climbing the charts. At the Mt. Bachelor Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix in January he was seventh; and then just a week ago he had a too-close-to-the-podium-to-feel-really-good fourth at Lake Placid.

The win places Holland squarely in the top ten SBX World Cup Overall rankings as the top American on the list with lucky No. 7. Seth Westcott (Farmington, ME), was eighth Friday, but represents the red, white and blue at ninth on the overall chart. 

Holland stoked with his first World Cup win (credit: FIS)

"After my ankle injury at my right foot which I suffered in Japan last year I had a really slow start in the season. I rarely made it to the finals but I was getting better and better the last competitions.Taking the fourth spot in Lake Placid made me proud and was good for my self esteem. But now I’m finally on top where I belong!"

The top American woman finisher was the remarkable Leslee Olson (Bend, OR) in 19th. Olson has come out of retirement in a made-for-Disney-movie Olympic bid. Two years of heavy course loads preparing for nursing school left the powerful Olson charging to catch up to the field. Olson’s off the couch progress has been turning heads. A win at the Gravity Games March 3rd was a much needed confidence and fund booster - keep an eye on this tiger. Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT) the U.S. golden girl,  did not race at Sierra-Nevada, but is firmly planted in the top five overall SBX rankings at fifth and a respectable 13th in the overall World Cup rankings.

Seth Wescott destroys SBX courses with style (credit: FIS)

And just remember, gentle reader…SBX is not for sissies. When this sport hits the Olympic stage next year and the whole world is exposed to racing action that my grandmother can understand but a park monkey can respect; well, look for these athletes to become international rock stars. Better send your fan mail now, before they are too busy filming commercials to write you back.

SNOWBOARD FIS WORLD CUP
Sierra-Nevada, SPA - March 11, 2005
Snowboard-Cross
Men's Final
1. Nate Holland, Squaw Valley, Calif.
2. Sylvian Duclos, France
3. Francois Boivin, Canada
4. Mario Fuchs, Austria
Small Final
5. Xavier Delerue, France
-
8. Seth Wescot,t Farmington, Maine
-
1/8 Finals
-
26. Jason R. Smith, Basalt, Colo.
28. Graham Watanabe, Hailey, Idaho
32. Ben Jacobellis, Bondville, Vt.
-
Women's Final
1. Tanja Frieden, Switzerland
2.Sandra Frei, Switzerland
3. Yvonne Mueller, Switzerland
4.Deborah Anthonioz, France
Small Final
5.  Zoe Gillings, Great Britain
-
Qualifications
19. Leslee Olson, Bend Ore.
22. Marni Yamada, Seattle, Wash.

For complete results:
http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=14055