In a competition stacked with Americans, Kevin Hill flew down the hill as the sole representative of his country in the final race.
But the 24-year-old Canadian didn’t let that faze him one bit. After describing the 2011 Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix as strictly a “money race,” Hill made some money for himself and took home the first-place prize Saturday at Canyons Resort.
The defending Canadian champion zoomed past the finish line first and let out a celebratory scream at the top of his lungs.
“I started fast and just got better,” he said.
Finishing second was Park City resident and U.S. champion Jonathan Cheever, while Austria’s Markus Schairer finished third. France’s Tony Ramoin finished fourth in the final heat.
American Jayson Hale won the consolation final, but finished second in the U.S. men’s overall standings. Kevin Leahy, who took sixth place, finished third among the U.S. men.
The final featured 32 racers in eight separate heats. The top two finishers in each heat moved on until the top four athletes of the day raced for first place on the eight-turn course.
Cheever called Hill “unstoppable” and the Canadian champion proved Saturday he is one of the world’s best racers.
“It’s super awesome,” he said. “I won Canadian nationals last year. This is super amazing for me.”
Hill, along with most of the riders, spoke of how technical the Canyons course was but that his confidence continued to build with each qualifying heat Saturday. When asked if he holds bragging rights taking first place on an event on American soil, the winner of $10,000 felt no need to gloat.
“I don’t need to brag about anything,” he said. “I’m happy to be here. I can just say I’m Canadian champion.”
Boardercross star Lindsey Jacobellis won the women’s final heat handily as she finished well in front of second place Deborah Anthonioz of France and third place Faye Gulini, a native of Salt Lake City.
Jacobellis, who just completed a four-peat in the X Games, said being able study the course during the few training days was essential her success.
“I was able to pick it apart,” she said.
Having not owned the U.S. champion’s green jacket since 2009, the star was happy to be able to wear it once again especially on American turf.
“This feels good to have it back and winning in the U.S. is always nice,” she said. “It’s really nice to have another stop (here) on the tour.”
She said whatever attention her sport can receive will only help it down the road.
“If you get interest in a younger demographic, then they’ll want to start racing in it and that just prolongs the life of our sport,” she said.
Nick Baumgartner, who won Winter X Games gold a couple weeks back, failed to qualify after his first heat, but was excited many of the younger athletes on the tour were able to shine.
“It’s a great race to get these young guns some experience and getting them to step up against us,” he said. “They’re the future of this sport.”
Most riders will head to Quebec to race in a World Cup event, including Baumgartner who has more important plans afterward.
He said his plans are to teach his six-year-old son how to ice skate.
“Coming off my win at X Games, I couldn’t be happier,” he said. “Everything’s good.”
As for Jacobellis, she said she remembered some brotherly advice before her final run that brought the green jacket back into her clutches.
“You have to take the skirt off, as my brother would say,” she said.