Shreddin' success

North Lake Tahoe Bonanza:   For the first time ever, the Sierra Nevada College men's snowboard team won all three events at the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association's national title event.

The team won the slopestyle, giant slalom and boardercross in last week's nationals at Sunday River Mountain in Maine.

"The competition was a lot better this year and we proved we can still put down good runs with the best," said coach Tony Carlstrom. "Our riders really had to work for their wins, which makes them that much more meaningful. We held off some great riders from the University of Colorado who stepped up their game for this event."

The Eagles helped their cause when the team's star rider, Spencer Cordovano, crossed the finish line in boardercross and was followed closely by junior Robert McNamara, giving SNC a one-two finish in the race.

"We thought we had a good shot coming into it and got the win. Spencer is such a versatile rider, he can race and he's really been working on his skills in the park," Carlstrom said. "He's a hard worker, in the offseason he's doing dry land workouts and he's out on the snow every day of the season."

Freshman Austen Butler also raced in the event, but fell and suffered a concussion, which sent him to the hospital. Carlstrom said he is recovering from the injury.

Cordovano was the first-place overall rider at nationals, followed by teammate Seth Gunsauls, a junior, in second place and sophomore Lance Lynch in fourth place. Cordovano recorded another win in the GS, followed by Gunsauls in second place to give the team a second 1-2 event finish.

"Seth is a great overall rider. He is fast and athletic so this competition is perfect for him. He loves the speed events, and he does enough tricks in the park to put down a solid run," Carlstrom said.

Lynch also recorded second-place finishes in the both the GS and slopestyle. He was followed in the slopestyle by sophomores Tarjei Sporastoyl in fourth and Michael Aster in seventh.

Carlstrom said the team excelled despite what he called "typical" Maine riding conditions - cold weather and soft snow.

"It could have been a lot worse for East Coast riding," Carlstrom said.

Both women on the team, freshmen Maya Hoffman and Nora Johannessen, didn't make it to the podium, but did show improvement, Carlstrom said. Hoffman suffered a broken leg in the women's boardercross, and Carlstrom said she is recovering.

He said he'd like to see the team ride in more big-time events next year, and is trying to register the team for the World University Games next January in China.

"That is going to be a big event for college riders, and I want our team represented there. It's a good opportunity to give our team wide exposure in the snow-sports world."