Press Release

World's Best Snowboarders competing for $80,000
The Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding heads to Sierra at Tahoe for the Ford Ranger North American Championships of Snowboarding, the final leg of the three-stop Series on March 29 - April 1. The event will pit athletes against one another in Superpipe and Big Air competitions with a purse totaling $80,000 as well as an opportunity to earn Vans Triple Crown points towards the overall Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding Title. The Snowboard Cross competition was concluded at Sierra at Tahoe March 1 - 4, where Drew Neilson and Line Oestvold clinched the final Snowboard Cross title of the 2001 Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding Series on the way to their share of the $45,000 Snowboard Cross purse.

With two stops on The Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding in the record books, some obvious favorites have emerged for the championship. With his fourth place finish in Snowboard Cross at Sierra at Tahoe, Frenchman Xavier DeLeRue has a promising chance of being crowned with the 2001 Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding. DeLeRue won the first two Snowboard Cross events, which may prove to be enough as the only one who can earn more points is 14 year-old Shaun White. White has shown he has the skills to compete on the global level with his two runner-up finishes in Breckenridge and Snow Summit; however, he must put together another stellar performance and finish in the top three to earn his first Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding title. If White can perform as he has in the first two events, the battle for the title is going to come down to the wire at the Ford Ranger North American Championships of Snowboarding. In the women's division, Line Oestvold of Norway, wrapped up the title with her second Snowboard Cross victory in a row. After dominating the competition at Snow Summit and Tahoe, she has earned enough points to be out of reach from every rider competing in Superpipe and Big Air at the Ford Ranger North American Championships of Snowboarding.

With the world's best riders descending on the slopes of Sierra at Tahoe for the Ford Ranger North American Championships of Snowboarding, the weekend competition is sure to provide Northern California with a taste of world-class snowboarding. The third leg of the Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding will not only provide spectators with competition in two disciplines, but it will also provide an ideal venue for a field of over 200 all-star riders to compete.

"Vans is thrilled to be at Sierra at Tahoe for the Ford Ranger North American Championships of Snowboarding," said Steve Van Doren, Vice President of Events and Promotions for Vans. "With ideal snow conditions of the Mountains, Sierra at Tahoe should provide the perfect venue for the conclusion of the 2001 Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding."

The Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding is one of the seven Vans Triple Crown Series in as many sports. Points are tabulated from the top three Snowboarding events of the season, including the competitions at Breckenridge, CO, Snow Summit, CA and Sierra at Tahoe, CA and the winner is crowned at the final event. Participants earn points from their highest scoring discipline at each of the three events. The winner in the men's division will receive a 2001 Ford Ranger and the winner of the women's division will receive a trip for two to the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing in Hawaii. The 1999 Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding Champions Ross Powers and Ine Poetzl will be gearing up to defend their titles against a stacked field of competitors in the 2000 season.


Go to: Sierra at Tahoe // Home Page