Holland brothers trying to punch Olympic tickets
SANDPOINT — Snowboardcross is pressure-packed by nature, with the tiniest miscue often the difference between a spot on the podium and finishing in the back of the pack.
With spots on the U.S. Olympic team hanging in the balance, the pressure for this weekend’s SBX World Cup race in Andora, Spain figures to be ratcheted up a notch or two. The U.S. will send four riders to the Olympics in Sochi, Russia next month, and the formula for naming the team is quite simple: the four highest finishes in World Cup races qualify.
Sandpoint natives Nate and Pat Holland are among a host of U.S. riders competing for one of the four spots, which will have to be earned with speed and moxie.
“You’re going to have to pull a podium to go,” said Pat Holland, noting drafting, passing and hitting jumps are his biggest strengths. “I have a great opportunity to make the Olympic team. It’s all performance-based, and I love that.”
In Friday’s time trials, Nate finished 11th among more than 70 riders, third among American men, and Pat finished 50th. Pat and two-time Gold Medalist Seth Wescott each narrowly missed making the field of 48 riders for today’s finals.
Nate bounced back from a broken collarbone to finish seventh at the previous World Cup in Canada, and will be gunning for a podium spot in today’s action. One of the biggest surprises of Friday’s time trial was the resurfacing of Shaun Palmer, a 45 year-old and one of the sport’s icons. Palmer rolled back the clock and qualified for today’s finals.
Wescott and Nate are generally considered the top two American SBX racers, but neither has a guaranteed spot on the Olympic team. Trevor Jacob and Nick Baumgartner posted the top two times in trials, as all of the U.S. racers understand the pressure to finish high. In short, it comes down to who is hot, and of course, a bit lucky in the thrill-a-minute sport.
“That gives us the best team for the Olympics. Whoever is riding the best will be there,” said Pat. “I’m sure we’ll have a strong team going into Sochi, whoever is on it.”
Due to the lack of snow to build a decent course, the FIS SBX World Cup weekend in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, scheduled for Jan. 17-19, has been postponed, meaning one less race and that much more pressure on the final two events.
The Hollands and most of the world’s top riders will be competing in the upcoming X Games, the final pre-Olympis tuneup and a race Nate has dominated in the past. For Holland to make his third winter Olympics, however, he’s going to need to hold off a bunch of hungry challengers in World Cup events. b
“If it comes down to the last two races and he needs results, he’s got the potential for back to back podiums,” said Pat of brother Nate. “He’s one of the best under pressure.”