Seth Wescott

Two time Olympic Halfpipe medalist Ross Powers got one step closer to his dream of again representing the United States at the Olympics this weekend, but not by riding a halfpipe, in which he won both a Bronze and Gold Medal in Nagano and Salt Lake, respectively.

Men's Podium

Instead Ross has made the low trajectory jump to the world of boardercross. And with a third place finish at Telluride's Visa US Snowboard Cup on Saturday, he is currently one of the favorites to make the team.

Boardercross is often overlooked in the high fashion world of halfpipe and slopestyle, yet the medals worn by competitors weigh the same. And the fame and notoriety can be equally glorious or disappointing. Just ask Lindsey Jacob-Ellis. The World Cup boardercross qualifying series is in full swing now, and everyone from Seth Wescott to Shaun Palmer are gunning for their place on the team. Now a new player ha entered the ring, it's a wait and see to determine if this ring can turn into five.

World Cup Boardercross Telluride Highlights

• The length of the track was longer than most of these athletes were used to with the top qualifying time being 1:10.
• Track was full of jumps and technical transition finder landings, big bowl corners and long high speed sections.
• Jeff Ihaksi, who will be building the course at the 2010 games, designed Telluride's World Cup course.
• The field was cut in half during Friday's qualifiers.
• Lindsey Jacobellis tangled with eventual winner Maelle Ricker in the womens first heat, being eliminated.
• Shaun Palmer, perhaps the most legendary snowboard crosser was eliminated in the round of 32, unable to recover from a mediocre start.
• Four American men made up the top eight - unfortunately 3 failed to make the final.
• In the semi finals, top qualifier David Bakes tangled with Graham Watanabe, taking out Nate Holland in the process and eventually sending both to the small final.
• Nate Holland's inspirational small final charge from behind showed that he has the most determination to win - and is willing to ride aggressively to succeed.
• Two time Olympic medalist Ross Powers (Bronze 1998, Gold 2002, Halfpipe) got a poor start in the final, but was able to take advantage of a mistake by David Bakes to take third place.
• Robert Fagan led most of the final only to be passed by France's Pierre Vaultier on the final stretch.

By Mark Sullivan/Photos - Photos from T-ride