Lincoln, NH (Saturday, January 24, 2004) - Alex Diebold (Manchester Center, VT) blasted the Loon Mountain snowboard cross course to win the Eastern Regional Championship Saturday in zero degree temps and wind chills whipping up to negative 20. Erin Mortinson (Park City, UT), who is currently training in Utah, aced the women’s race.

Jonathan Cheever (Saugus, MA) was second followed by Adam Johnson (Rochester, MA) and Christopher Richards (Yarmouth, MA). On the women’s side, Alex Duckworth (Statton, VT) took second ahead of Brook Shaw (Bantam, CT) and Monica Demmiti (Mount Vernon, NH).

In its second year at Loon, the Eastern Regional serves as a qualifier for the Chevrolet Junior Gold program. The top male and women’s finisher in both SBX and halfpipe earn an invitation to train with the U.S. Snowboard team and their coaches at a Mount Hood, Oregon summer camp. But since Diebold finished fourth at the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix SBX hosted by Mammoth Mountain, California January 11, he was already qualified for the Junior Gold program. Therefore, Cheever earns the ticket to Mount Hood.

“The course was mellow, but really fast,” said U.S. Snowboarding Program Director Becky Woolley. “Most of the riders where running it full speed. Loon did a great job in putting the course together and we’re excited to be back here for a second year.”

An important stop, the Eastern Regional serves and the first step in the U.S. team pipeline and gives both athletes and coaches a good look at who is ready to make the jump to the next level with their riding. Loon will also host a halfpipe event Sunday.

“We definitely enjoy this event,” said Snowboard Park Manager Jay Scambio. “It’s great to get the kids here and this is much different from anything else that we host on the year so everyone on our staff is totally for it. Today was just as good, if not better than last year and we look forward to bringing everyone back next year.”

U.S. SNOWBOARDING EASTERN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lincoln, N.H. – Jan. 24

Men's Snowboard Cross
1. Alex Diebold, Manchester Center, Vt.
2. Adam Johnson, Rochester, Mass.
3. Jonathan Cheever, Saugus, Mass.
4. Christopher Richards, Yarmouth, Mass.

Women's Snowboard Cross
1. Erin Mortinson, Park City, Utah
2. Alex Duckworth, Stratton, Vt.
3. Brook Shaw, Bantam, Conn.
4. Monica Demmiti, Vernon, N.H.