LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Lindsay Jacobellis and Nick Baumgartner gave the United States a first-place sweep in the U.S. Snowboarding Cup snowboard cross event at Whiteface Mountain on Saturday.

Lindsey Jacobellis of the United States leads Helene Olafsen, center, of Norway, and Sandra Frei, left, of Switzerland, off a jump during the quarterfinals of the FIS Snowboard World Cup sno-cross, Saturday, March 1, 2008, in Lake Placid, N.Y. Jacobellis went on to win the event. (AP Photo/Todd Bissonette)

Jacobellis and Baumgartner each won all of their qualifying races as well as the final heats in the men's and women's World Cup contest.

Jacobellis, from Stratton Mountain, Vt., also won her fourth straight SBX title at Whiteface.

"Today, getting a good start was very important because the course was too narrow up top to pass,'' Jacobellis said. "The best spots to pass were lower on the course, but if you sit back and wait, that's pretty risky.''

The winners of the FIS Snowboard World Cup sno-cross, from left, taking second place, Maelle Ricker of Canada, first place Lindsey Jacobellis of The United States, and third place Dominique Maltais of Canada, pose on the podium after receiving their awards Saturday, March 1, 2008 in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP photo/Todd Bissonette)

Canada's Maelle Ricker, who rode to victories in the most recent two World Cup SBX events heading into Lake Placid, finished second in the women's competition. Canadian Dominique Maltais was third.

Saturday's men's victory was the first of the season for Baumgartner, a 26-year-old from Iron River, Mich. Baumgartner had to ride in an additional heat to reach the final after a rerun was declared in his semifinal heat.

"I've been riding fast this season, but I've needed to work on my turns,'' Baumgartner said. "Everything came together for me today. My turns were good and I was riding fast.''

Canada's Drew Neilson, who won an SBX title at Whiteface Mountain in 2007, finished second in the men's competition. Canadian Tom Velisek was third.

Saturday's SBX race also served as this season's U.S. National Championship, which gave both Jacobellis and Baumgartner two wins on the day.

The VISA U.S. Snowboarding Cup continues Sunday at Whiteface with the SBX team event and wraps up Monday with men's and women's parallel giant slalom races.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
March 1, 2008

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