Todd Richards (Encinitas, Calif.) and Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, Vt.) led qualifying Saturday at Mt. Bachelor at the Chevy Truck U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix. They will lead 20 men and 15 women into the finals Sunday, the third of five Olympic qualifying events.

"The backside 900 was the money move," said Richards, who failed to qualify in either of the opening Grand Prix' at Mammoth Mountain last month. "After that I threw in a couple of spins and stuck the landing. I guess that was enough to impress the judges. I'm going to go to Breckenridge, compete in both events there and see what happens from there."

"I didn't have the McTwist working in Mammoth and was really frustrated, but in the past two days I've kind of figured it out and have been stomping it," said Clark. "I'm psyched to make a run at the Olympic team. It would be the ultimate accomplishment."

"I was really stoked with the way I was riding, so I felt pretty confident going into the event," said 15-year old Shaun White (San Diego, Calif.), who was second behind Richards. "I did a couple of airs, a McTwist and a frontside 9, which is my signature ride. I'd be really stoked to make the (Olympic) team. I just can't imagine being part of that level of competition."

After the first two qualifiers last month in Mammoth, only one spot on the U.S. Olympic Team is secured. Shannon Dunn, the defending Olympic bronze medalist, clinched a spot at Mammoth and chose to skip the event in Mt. Bachelor. A win Sunday would clinch a spot for 1998 Olympic bronze medalist Ross Powers, as well as either Luke Wynen (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) or Danny Kass. Tricia Byrnes is the only women's rider who could clinch a spot Sunday, and she would need a win.

Kass, who won the opening qualifier in Mammoth, qualified 18th and will be in Sunday's finals.

— Courtesy, Chevy Truck U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix News Bureau