DECONSTRUCTING THE GAMES : Winter rodeo The home team will be the centre of attention as the world’s most gnarly daredevil riders take their impressive tricks to Cypress next month. For now, chillax, and enjoy this primer by Canwest News Service writer Cory Wolfe:

MEDAL FAVOURITES

Women’s : Canadians Men’s snowboard cross:Defending gold Maelle Ricker and Dominique Maltais rank medallist of the U.S. among the World Cup leaders in 2010. and France’s have had At the 2006 Games,American Lindsay strong results on the World Cup circuit, Jacobellis seemingly had gold wrapped while Canadian Robert Fagan is having up but she wiped out after attempting to a breakout season. showboat on the final jump.

Ricker Jacobellis Maltais Wescott Vaultier Fagan The Backside rodeo Women’s halfpipe:Australia’s Torah Men’s halfpipe:Japan’s young and This is one move you’re sure to see during Bright,finally healthy after dealing already dominant contingent includes the Olympic snowboarding competition. with a nagging shoulder injury,should World Cup force Kazuhiro Kokubo and Here’s how it works: challenge Chinese riders Jiayu Liu and 2009 world champion Ryo Aono. Xuetong Cai for aerial supremacy. Still,American is a strong bet to defend his 2006 gold. 1.THE APPROACH Some speed is required to achieve the necessary airtime.The rider sets up the manoeuvre with a slight toe-side carve just before the lip of the jump.Then he shifts weight to his heels to prepare for the backflip. Bright Liu Cai White Kokubo Aono

Women’s parallel giant slalom: Men’s parallel giant slalom:’s Germany’s Amelie Kober and the Austrian medal hopes took a hit in December when 2.THE FLIP duo of Doris Guenther and Claudia Riegler Matthew Morison fractured his elbow, have dominated the World Cup circuit. but he’s still expected to compete. As the rider goes airborne,he throws Canadian Kimiko Zakreski is a darkhorse Jasey-Jay Anderson,34,is also a strong back his head and trailing shoulder podium prospect after winning bronze contender for Canada,while Benjamin to initiate the backflip.At the same at Telluride,Colo.in December. Karl leads a strong Austrian team. time,he grabs the edge of the board either melon style (front hand on heel side) or indy style (rear hand on toe side) to help stabilize the rotation.

Kober Guenther Zakreski Karl Morison Anderson

3.AIRTIME Knees stay tucked throughout the flip.The rider spots his landing as he comes out of the rotation.

THE VENUE Cypress Located in West , Cypress is home to snowboarding and freestyle skiing.The venue underwent a $15.8-million 4.THE LANDING renovation and features room for 12,000 spectators in each Once the flip is complete,the rider of two temporary stadiums. lets go of the grab to initiate a final 180-degree spin before landing. Snowboard cross course: 1,130 metres in length,with a vertical drop of 208 metres. Parallel giant slalom course: 515 metres in length,with a grade of approximately 35 per cent. Halfpipe: 160 metres in length, with 18-degree banking.

THE ATHLETES SMART FACTS 1.American 2.Jake Burton 3.Snowboarding 4.The United 5.Rebagliati has Snowboarders need a combination Sherman was the lone com- debuted at the States has won entered federal of balance and strength. Poppen designed petitor at the first 1998 Olympics 14 Olympic politics,and is the Balance: Snowboarders the Snurfer,which world snurfing in Nagano,Japan, snowboarding Liberal Party’s vary in body shape,but core helped pave the championship, with the downhill medals,six more nominee for the strength (centred in the way for develop- held in 1979 at giant slalom and than Switzerland. B.C.riding of muscles of the abdomen ment of modern Grand Rapids, halfpipe events. Canadians have Okanagan- and lower back) allows riders snowboards. Mich.Burton went In 2002,parallel claimed just two: Coquihalla. to maintain balance. On Christmas Day on to advance giant slalom ’s He plans to take 1965,he bound the sport with replaced giant giant slalom on Conservative Strength:Other key areas two children’s improved slalom,and a gold in 1998 MP Stockwell include the quadriceps and snow skis to equipment third discipline, and Dominique Day in the next hamstrings,as well as muscles create a wider and by lobbying snowboard cross, Maltais’s election. in the lower legs and feet. board and added ski resorts to allow was added to the snowboard cross In halfpipe events,strong spatial perception allows a rope. snowboarders on Olympic program bronze in 2006. athletes to successfully complete aerial tricks. their hills. in 2006.

FOR MORE ON THE 2010 WINTER GO TO VANCOUVERSUN.COM/2010 GRAPHICS:BY ROGER WATANABE AND MAGGIE WONG/VANCOUVER SUN

SNOWBOARDING SCHEDULE

» Day 4 » Day 5 » Day 6 » Day 7 » Day 16 Monday, Feb. 15 Tuesday, Feb. 16 Wednesday, Feb. 17 Thursday, Feb. 18 Saturday, Feb. 27 Black Mountain at Cypress Men’s snowboard cross Women’s Men’s halfpipe Women’s halfpipe Men’s PGS Freestyle skiing events 10:30-12:50 p.m. snowboard cross 1:05-3:45 p.m. 12:30-2:05 p.m. 10-11 a.m. will also take place at Cypress *2-3 p.m. 10-11:40 a.m. 5:15-6:15 p.m. 4-5 p.m. *12:15-1:50 p.m. during the 2010 Games. *12:15-12:50 p.m. *7:15-8:15 p.m. *6-7 p.m. » Day 15 *Indicates Friday, Feb. 26 medal events Women’s PGS 10-11 a.m. *12:15-1:50 p.m.

Canada Hockey Place: 20101