U.S. men blow away snowboardcross competitors at X Games

By USSA

ASPEN -– Nate Holland of Squaw Valley, Nick Baumgartner of Iron River, Mich., and Jayson Hale of Sierraville led U.S. Snowboarding to a clean sweep of the snowboardcross podium at Winter X Games.

Alex Deibold of Manchester Center, Vt., was next in fourth, demonstrating the depth of the U.S. team. Holland’s time of 1:27.57 was a commanding half second ahead of Baumgartner’s 1:28.01.

Lindsey Jacobellis of Stratton Mountain, Vt., injured her knee two days before the event and was not able to defend her title, breaking her streak at four consecutive wins. Canadian Dominque Maltais won the women’s event.

This is Holland’s fifth X Games snowboardcross gold.

Nick Baumgartner, who won gold in 2011, earned silver

Hale took bronze for the second time in his X Games career.

“It always feels great to be on top. I knew I just had to ride my heart out and back my words up and I was able to do that. I am fired up to be back on top,” Holland said.