SUNGWOO RESORT, Korea (Feb. 25) � Rosey Fletcher (Girdwood, AK) and Adam Smith (Bend, OR) were the only American riders to make the finals in the parallel slalom at Saturday�s FIS World Cup in Korea. Fletcher was the top-placing American at 13th and Smith was in her draft at 14th. (Except not really since they were on different courses at different times but you know what I�m sayin�).

Smith has broken his back twice in the quest for snowboard gold. His best finish was a first in a PSL at the historic first indoor World Cup in Landgraaf, Netherlands, in 2003. Fletcher is a longtime snowboard competitor with years worth of medals to her credit, including 18 career World Cup podiums. Justin Reiter, (Steamboat Springs, CO) did not make the final ladder but did break the top 20. He is having a great rookie year and is one to watch.

Korea is a long way to go to race your snowboard, especially when there is perfectly good snow right here in the U.S.A. But go ahead and ask any traveling snowboarder what he or she likes about his or her job and that rider is likely to tell you about all the cool places they get to go. Sungwoo Resort, Korea, is not a place your burger-flipping job is likely to take you, right?

Sungwoo is regarded as the best snowboard resort in Korea. After a close call with the 2006 Winter Olympics that were eventually awarded to Vancouver, Canada, Korea is hungry for top-level snowboard action. The few professional snowboarders who have ventured over before this World Cup have been treated like genuine rock stars. Reiter, with his penchant for leather and spikes, should have no trouble adjusting to the treatment.

FIS SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP
Sungwoo Resort, Korea - Feb. 25, 2005
Parallel Slalom Final

Women

1. Daniela Meuli, Switzerland
2. Doris Guenther, Austria
3. Doresia Krings, Austria
4. Ursula Bruhin, Switzerland
5. Claudia Riegler, Austria

13. Rosey Fletcher, Girdwood, Alaska
25. Lynne Ott, Bend, Ore.
30. Michelle Gorgone, Sudbury, Mass.
32. Stacia Hookom, Edwards, Colo.

DNS Lisa Kosglow, Boulder, Colo.

Men

1. Philipp Schoch, Switzerland
2. Richard Rikardsson, Sweden
3. Meinhard Erlacher, Italy
4. Urs Eiselin, Switzerland
5. Simon Schoch, Switzerland

14. Adam N. Smith, Bend, Ore.
19. Justin Reiter, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
21. Tyler Jewell, Sudbury, Mass.
23. Peter Thorndike, Meredith, NH
28. Ryan McDonald, Entiat, Wash