Powers makes the jump to snowboardcross

By Marty Basch, Globe Correspondent  |  February 26, 2009

Ross Powers, the two-time Olympic halfpipe medalist making the SBX switch, qualified to compete in Saturday's World Cup snowboardcross race at Sunday River in Newry, Maine. The Vermont rider had a sixth-place World Cup finish in Argentina in September and a sixth and eighth place in a couple of Nor-Ams.

"He's showing some real skill and promise," said US Snowboarding coach Peter Foley.

Bode Miller's brother Chelone also qualified, placing second Feb. 1 at Colorado's Copper Mountain in a Nor-Am event and adding two fifth-place finishes in World Cup races.

The US Snowboarding Team is without Massachusetts native and Boston College graduate Tyler Jewell, who is rehabbing a torn left medial collateral ligament suffered at the World Championships at Gangwon, Korea, in January.

"We hope to have him back by the end of the season," said US Snowboard Team Alpine coach Steve Persons.

A Saturday night wrap-up party at the Foggy Goggle at South Ridge will feature an autograph session with athletes at 7:30 p.m.

The 47 ski resorts in New York have banded together to fight a proposed 8 percent sales tax on lift tickets, lessons, and other recreational activities. Backed by Gov. David Paterson and expected to be considered by the legislature in April, the measure includes a 4 percent state tax with an option for local governments to impose an additional 4 percent in an effort to meet record budget shortfalls.

One argument against the revenue-raising idea is that taxing an athletic activity would be at odds with one of Paterson's pet proposals, the so-called 18 percent "obesity tax" on sugary soft drinks.

"The Governor has proposed an obesity tax that taxes the sale of soda. The premise is to tax products that are unhealthy to our children," said Scott Brandi, president of Ski Areas of New York, Inc., in an interview on First Tracks Online. "He has been an advocate for outdoor recreation but his proposed sales tax on skiing . . . and other forms of recreation contradicts this."

There's a long way to go before Dartmouth can imagine a repeat of its 2007 NCAA title triumph over Denver. But so far, things are on track.

At last weekend's Middlebury carnival, the Big Green had to turn it on to squeak out a win, but they remained undefeated after five Alpine and cross-country competitions. Dartmouth won with 881.5 points, ahead of Vermont (866), and Middlebury (834).

Sophomores Rosie Brennan and Ida Sargent teamed up with freshman Sophie Caldwell to get Dartmouth off to a wide lead in the women's 3 x 5 relay race. On the men's side, Middlebury forged a close win over the Big Green with its team of Tim Reynolds, Patrick Johnson, and Simeon Hamilton sprinting past Ben True, Patrick O'Brien, and Nils Koons. Williams placed third with Alex Taylor, Sam Kapala, and Keith Kantack teaming up.

In the Alpine competition, Middlebury's Leah McLaughry won the giant slalom over Dartmouth's Kelsey Roddick, with another Middlebury skier, Mattie Ford, rounding out the podium. In men's competition, Williams's Eric Mann won GS on a very tricky course, while UVM's Marsh Gooding placed second and Sean MacNamara third. But Dartmouth got points from enough skiers to win in a close finish.

Colby College hosts this weekend's final carnival event at Sugarloaf in Maine, which acts as the Eastern Championships. It's also a qualifier for the NCAA Championships March 10-14.

The country's top up-and-coming riders are bound for Sugarloaf March 9-11 for the 2009 US Snowboard Revolution Tour to compete in halfpipe, slopestyle, and snowboardcross.

Athletes use the tour to qualify for events such as the US Open, World Juniors, US World Cup, and other competitions.

"This is a very sought after, very fun series," said Abbi Nyberg, US Snowboarding program manager. "It's a great event for young and developing riders because it helps them build their skills and prepare themselves for the next level of competition."

Halfpipe is slated for March 9, slopestyle March 10, and snowboardcross March 11 on the Sidewinder Snowboardcross Course designed by Carrabassett Valley Academy graduate and Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott.

The New England Ski Museum in Franconia, N.H., is branching into the Nordic world with its first cross-country marathon. Executive director Jeff Leich said the Bretton Woods Nordic Marathon will be held March 14 and is limited to 300 racers.

"We have been over-represented by Alpine skiers in our membership and on our board so we decided to expand our universe and go back to our Norwegian roots," said Leich. "In addition, I'm 90 percent certain our new spring exhibit will be about Nordic skiing."

The 50-kilometer race will use a 25-kilometer loop in the hills and woods on the east side of Route 302 by the Mount Washington Hotel and passes through the site of the old Crawford House Golf Course.

"We hope to attract college, high school, and master's level skiers," said Leich, as well as ski clubs.

Sign up at www.skireg.com.

Jiminy Peak will hold a food drive tomorrow, offering $15 off to customers who donate at least two non-perishable food items . . . On Sunday, Mount Abram will offer $20 lift tickets, with half the proceeds benefiting the Maine Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society . . . Crotched Mountain will begin selling a $99 unlimited lift ticket, which is valid for skiing and boarding any time, day or night, until the close of this season . . . Can't sleep? Then ski or ride the overnight shift at Wachusett from 9 p.m. tomorrow to 6 a.m. Saturday. The Princeton ski area will keep the Polar Express and Minuteman Quad chairs running all night, with chances to win prizes and raise money for Champions for Children . . . Think you can ski the 2,100 vertical feet of Wildcat's Lynx Trail all day? Forty skiers and riders will do that Monday during Wildcat's Make-a-Wish 10K Vertical Challenge. Last year, 25 participants completed at least 48 runs. Sign up at www.skiwildcat.com. Wildcat will also have $9 lift tickets March 13 and 20 . . . The nonprofit New England Telemark is holding a classic telemark race at Gunstock in Gilford, N.H., Feb. 28.

Globe correspondents T.D. Thornton and Tony Chamberlain contributed to this report.