Up Close with Ross Powers

Flashback to early January when, prior to catching yet another plane to another competition, Ross Powers, of South Londonderry spoke about his most recent Grand Prix Snowboarding halfpipe win which secured him a spot on the 2002 US Olympic Snowboard Team. "From the beginning of this season, I was pretty focused on making it to the Olympics again. That was my goal. It's awesome to know I will be going back to the Olympics, especially since I know what it's all about. And it's great that it will be here in the USA."

And great it was, as Powers went higher and bigger (some eighteen feet above the lip of the super- pipe) than the rest of the Olympic field. The southern Vermont native was rewarded with winning the Olympic Gold Medal and led an all-American sweep of the Halfpipe event.

The 23-years old Powers is thought of as the "hometown hero" for the Manchester and the Mountains region, born in Bennington and brought up in South Londonderry, just miles from Bromley Mountain. He had previously won the Olympic Bronze Medal in the men's halfpipe competition at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. Closer to home, Powers won the 1999 U.S. Open and finished second the following year at the annual snowboarding event held at Stratton.

Last month on the David Letterman Show, Powers talked about receiving his first snowboard from his mother, Nancy, for a birthday present when he was eight and learned to snowboard at Bromley. In elementary and middle schools, he participated in the Bromley Outing Club and then went to high school at the Stratton Mountain School where he honed his skills as a halfpipe competitor. Bromley Outing Club President Bill Hadden said, "Ross started here and we couldn't be more proud. He is clearly an athlete that the area can be proud of and kids can look up to. To see him go this far represents our area very well."

Stratton Mountain School Headmaster Christopher Kaltsas, commented, "We are incredibly excited for Ross who is now a two-time Olympian and two-time medalist. He's a wonderful person and he makes us proud to have had a part in his development. We wish him continued success."

Powers has often credited his family and friends with being his biggest influence and inspiration. Also there for Powers has been Burton Snowboard Company founder and industry pioneer, Jake Burton Carpenter. Carpenter was at the bottom of the halfpipe last month following Powers' moment in Olympic history and said, "I was just talking with Ross; he is so happy and I am so happy for him. He's the kind of kid that can handle this. Being a Gold Medalist won't change him."

What kind of young man is Ross Powers? In 2001 he established the Ross Powers Foundation which assists up and coming snowboarders with the financial demands that come along with training. That's Ross Powers!

A Visit with Winter Games' Olympic Girl - Kelly Clark

Park City, UT- Riding the halfpipe to a gold medal victory at the XIX Olympic Winter Games was just the beginning of a media ride that has taken Kelly Clark across the country and back again. Only a couple of weeks after her gold medal win in the women's halfpipe event, Clark talked with Vermont Style about what has turned out to be more than "her fifteen minutes of fame."

VS: What was the week like directly following your win and the following week's whirlwind schedule?
KC: It was pretty hectic. I think I had half an hour of sleep that first night and maybe fifteen hours over the next five days. It really hasn't sunk in yet that I won the Gold Medal. I haven't had too much time to think and figure out how excited I am.

VS: What has it been like dealing with the media attention?
KC: It's been okay. It was little weird at first, but it's a great opportunity for me and the sport.

VS: You're sponsored by the Burton Company, and with this Olympic win you finally met company founder Jake Burton Carpenter. What was that like?
KC: He was excited for me and very happy for Burton.

VS: You were a guest, via satellite, on the Jay Leno Show were on the David Letterman Show. Now that the Olympics are over, what was the most memorable moment for you during your Olympic experience?
KC: I think it was when I finished my run and I was waiting for my score, but I will never forget the medal award ceremony and singing the National Anthem with all the American people there.

VS: What was your visit with David Letterman like?
KC: I was nervous at first but all the people that worked for him told me how excited he was to meet me. That made it easier.

VS: How would you say your life has changed since receiving your Gold Medal?
KC: It's changed a great deal. People know who I am and that's strange to me.

VS: Now that the Olympics are over, what will you be doing?
KC: I'll be going to Japan for the Nippon Open halfpipe competition and then come back to the U.S. to Tahoe for the Vans Triple Crown series. Then it's home to Vermont for the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships at Stratton Mountain. Then I go overseas again to Sweden. Finally, I'll come back to the U.S. to Mammoth Mountain for Nationals.

VS: Describe your relationship with your U.S. teammates Shannon Dunn and Tricia Byrnes.
KC: They rode so well at the Olympics. Their fifth and sixth place finishes were a strong showing for U.S. women's snowboarding. And they were excited for me. I think the total American showing for men and women at the Olympics has done a lot for the sport.

VS: Are there competitors you would like to go up against who were not at the Olympics?
KC: There's a bunch of good riders out there and it changes every contest so I'm just excited to start up with the norm.

Visitors to the Manchester and the Mountains area can watch Kelly Clark and Ross Powers, and many others who competed at the Winter Olympics, at the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships beginning March 14th at Stratton Mountain Resort's Sun Bowl.