Anderson

Today's World Cup giant slalom almost didn't happen today in Shigakogen/Nagano, Japan, where snowboarders celebrated the sport's Olympic premiere in the 1998 Winter Olympics.

A tremendous, week-long storm brought more than one meter of snow to Nagano, where an ample amount of the white stuff has already fallen this season. However, the organizers worked hard, around the clock, grooming and stepping the slope. When the snow suddenly stopped yesterday, the crisis was averted and the giant slalom went down without a hitch.

Matthieu Bozzetto from France was ready to reclaim the yellow leader's bib from Austria's Stefan Kaltscütz today, and after setting the fastest time in the first run, it looked like he could do it. But Bozzetto crossed a gate and was disqualified.

"Two years ago I had the lead after the first run here and dropped out in the second, but it is off my shoulders now and I can start thinking about 2002...."— Jasey Jay Anderson (CAN)

This opened the door for Canadian Jasey Jay Anderson, who claimed the gold and took a sort of personal revenge.

"That was one of the reasons why I came to Japan." he said. "Two years ago I had the lead after the first run here and dropped out in the second, but it is off my shoulders now and I can start thinking about 2002."

France's Nicolas Huet just missed the top spot, finishing 2nd at 56/100 of a second behind Anderson.

"I am so happy," he said, "it is a better feeling than ever before. I have done really bad in giant slalom this year, although I thought I could work it out. It was the first time that I finished both runs today and just went in second place so this is something good for my head, I really needed that."

Kaltschütz got 3rd and kept the yellow leader bib. Bozzetto, upset after his loss, kept 2nd place in the standings, ahead of Anderson, who moved up from 8th place.

Parini Eases Up and Wins
Margerita Parini picked her second GS victory today in the women's race. The Italian had finished the first run with a lead of almost two seconds and decided on taking a safe run in the second round. Although crossing the finish line with only the eighth fastest time, her margin was big enough for her to claimed the gold with a lead of more than one second.

"That has not been an easy race," she said. "The Japanese did a perfect job, but all that snow has made the slope pretty soft. I was the first to start this morning and there have been quite a few bumps. I was lucky that I had this big lead from the first run, so I reduced the speed and forced myself to keep more control in the second, not to take any risks."

France's Isabelle Blanc also had a bad memory from this course on Mount Yakebitai; in the Olympic final she missed the very last gate and a chance at a medal, but she did fine today and finished 2nd, while Manuela Riegler from Austria took 3rd.

"There was some history behind this course," said Blanc, "but I forced myself to be fast and when I got further down the hill, I always reminded myself to take that last turn."

	Parini

Parini also claimed the lead in the GS standings today. Riegler is still in 2nd, ahead of Aasa Windahl from Sweden, who finished 5th today.

First-ever Olympic champions Ross Rebagliati from Canada and Karine Ruby from France were not on the podium today. Rebagliati is taking some time off racing this year, while Karine Ruby was at the start but dropped out after a crash in the first run. In a pre-race comment, Ruby said that today's race didn't feel any different than her other races this season, but it would have been nice to see here on the podium here, where she celebrated the biggest triumph in her career, back in '98.

The season's ninth halfpipe will take place tomorrow.

—Britta Semmler, MountainZone.com Correspondent