Hollands miss finals in Switzerland

AROSA, Switzerland - The second World Cup snowboardcross race of the season was one the Holland brothers would just as soon put behind them, with Nate finishing 17th and Patrick 45th out of the 66 riders competing this weekend in Arosa, Switzerland.

Coming into the race Patrick was ranked 8th and Nate 10th in the World Cup rankings, and after Arosa Nate is now 18th and Patrick 19th. With the 2010 U.S. Olympic team essentially being chosen based off this season's results, each race this season is significant.

It was a particularly hard week for Patrick, whose equipment didn't show up, forcing him to borrow gear. He was unable to make it through the time trials.

"It had to really be pounding on him," said his father, Don Holland.

Olympic gold medalist and fellow U.S. team member Seth Wescott (Sugarloaf, Maine) threw down the fastest runs to win the first snowboardcross World Cup of his career. Teammates Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, Mich.) and Graham Watanabe (Sun Valley) both raced in the small final with Baumgartner ending up fifth and Watanabe in seventh.

The athletes now break for the holidays before heading to Bad Gastein, Austria, for two competitions Jan. 10-11.

After that the focus turns to the Winter X Games, where Nate will be seeking his fourth consecutive gold medal. The brothers are putting a fundraiser together on Jan. 24, the day of the X Games SBX race.

There will be a party during the race up at Schweitzer at Taps. There will be prizes, raffles, auctions and lots of fun, all to help raise money for the brothers' competitive expenses, many of which are paid out of pocket.

"It will basically be a big community party," said Don Holland. "Skiers and non-skiers alike are welcome to come and support the boys during X Games."