A big disappointment for Shaftsbury’s Andy Newell yesterday. The U.S. favorite crashed in the qualification round of the men’s cross-country individual sprint classic and didn’t advance to the quarterfinals. He’ll have another chance to compete in the team event. Newell ranked 45th overall.
The event to watch today, of course, is the women’s half pipe competition, kicking off this afternoon. 2006 gold medalist Hannah Teeter of Belmont will face off against 2002 gold medalist Kelly Clark of West Dover. Clark is looking for a comeback after coming in fourth in Torino. She won the World Cup event at Cypress Mountain and she’s credited with pushing women’s snowboarding to new levels. Some say she has a chance to become the first two-time Olympic gold medalist in the women’s half pipe. But both Clark and Teter face a lot of competition from Australian Torah Bright, who is the only female rider to try a double cork trick.
Also in competition today, Leanne Smith of Conway, New Hampshire racing in the women’s downhill super-combined. And the local biathletes are back in action. Tim Burke of Lake Placid and Lowell Bailey of Paul Smiths try again for medals in the men’s 20k. And Haley Johnson of Lake Placid competes in the women’s 15k.