Wescott, Jacobellis lead charge into Whistler for snowboard worlds

Wescott, Jacobellis lead charge into Whistler for snowboard worlds{mosimage}WHISTLER, B.C. (Jan. 15) – As the FIS Snowboard World Championships opened Saturday i n Whistler, B.C., 2003 Worlds silver medalist Seth Wescott (Farmington, ME) led the charge for America as all four U.S. men qualified for the snowboardcross finals Sunday. Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT), who placed second in qualifying with a time of 1:41:87, was the lone U.S. woman to advance.

Wescott placed seventh in qualifications with a time of 1:35.05. Austria’s Dieter Krassnig had the days fastest time at 1:33:30. Other Americans qualifying for SBX finals are Graham Watanabe (11th; Ketchum, ID), Jayson Hale (15; Sierraville, CA) and Mike Rosengren (T-17th; Bozeman, MT).

NBC will broadcast the FIS Snowboard World Championships Feb. 6 at 12 p.m. and on Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. ET. Check local listings.

Jacobellis, who will compete in SBX Sunday as well as halfpipe later in the week, finished number two behind Dominique Matais of Canada at 1:41.72. The top 32 men and top 16 women make finals.

U.S. Snowboarding Head Coach Peter Foley said Saturday’s results were solid and he feels confident in his riders as they head into finals.

“I’m super stoked that all four men made it though qualifying and I hope they have good pack races tomorrow,” said Foley. “Lindsey has been riding really well, and she put in another two good runs here. Her second run was even faster than her first, and both of her times were out in front of the rest of the field.”

Snowboardcross finals begin at 12 p.m. PT on Whistler’s Lower Cruiser run.