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PARK CITY, Utah — Winter X Games snowboarding champ Nick Baumgartner made a big mistake Saturday going into the most difficult turn on Doc’s Run at Canyons Resort.
Rather than take out good buddy Jonathan Cheever, Baumgartner went down himself, allowing Cheever to finish unscathed in the Snowboarding Grand Prix and claim the U.S. title Saturday.
“The only way I could have survived that corner was if I would have released it up high and I would have pushed Cheever into the fences,” Baumgartner said. “And I ain’t doing that to him, not that guy. If I hadn’t made a mistake, I would have had my chance. But I made a mistake and I’m not going to take him out because of my mistake.”
Cheever finished second in the Grand Prix finals behind defending Canadian champion Kevin Hill. Only American racers qualified for the U.S. title this week, while foreign racers competed for the $10,000 first prize.
Lindsey Jacobellis cruised to victory in the ladies Snowboarding Grand Prix to capture the ladies U.S. title. Faye Gulini took third behind France’s Deborah Anthonioz and earned the U.S. silver medal. Chloe Banning was fourth in the Grand Prix, but took bronze for the U.S.
Jayson Hale was fifth overall Saturday, but finished second in the U.S. men’s standings followed by Kevin Leahy (sixth in the Grand Prix).
“I’m pumped to get the national title on my home mountain,” said Cheever, who grew up near Boston but calls Park City home now. “My parents were here to see me. That makes it a little sweeter. We’ve got a lot of (World Cup) racing left in the season, so this is a good way to carry me through the end of ther year.”