Olympics News and Info

Snowboarding: White, Clark, headline US halfpipe team – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics

Park City (AFP) - Shaun White turned in a near-perfect performance Saturday to seal a halfpipe victory in the US Snowboarding Grand Prix and underscore his status as a gold medal favorite at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

Reigning Olympic champ White and 2002 women's gold medallist Kelly Clark headline the US halfpipe team for Vancouver announced on Saturday.

White, who had already secured his Olympic berth, isn't taking it easy heading into Vancouver, winning Saturday's event with a score of 49.50 - just half a point off a perfect 50.

White will be joined by Olympic newcomers Scotty Lago and Louie Vito.

Clark will be joined on the women's team by 2006 gold and silver medallists Hannah Teter Gretchen Bleiler.

America has dominated the halfpipe snowboard event since it made its Olympic debut in 1998.

The full US snowboard team is to be announced next week.

bb