Daily Updates — Live from Nagano

GS Gold Medalist Karine Ruby [click to zoom]

This Time for Olympic Gold
Despite snow showers and low fog, the show had to go on today at the Yakebitai Ski Area outside of Nagano. With snow storms confusing and disrupting the Winter Games, the motion had been set to move on and play.

Another several centimeters of snow blanketed the course overnight and continued to fall this morning, but Olympic organizers made the decision to let the ladies step up to the world's spotlight for their first Snowboarding gold in the Giant Slalom.

The women were surrounded by the same jubilant Olympic crowds as the men had been a couple days before, but this course, under these conditions, was much more unforgiving. At the end of the first run, seven out of the 31 competing women had mishaps which escorted them out of the competition. Three of these victims were Americans: Lisa Kosglow, Betsy Shaw, and Rosey Fletcher.

US Top Finisher Lisa Kosglow [click to zoom]

[Kosglow Ain't Bitter]

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Karine Ruby of France proved her prowess once again and arrived at the finish line with the best time of the first run. Ruby, the 20-year-old out of a village near Chamonix, France, has been dominating the FIS World Cup circuit like Mike Tyson did to boxing in the mid-'80s. She was the favorite to win today and, after the first run, it appeared that she might repeat with Olympic style.

Going into the second run, several other riders were within striking distance of Miss Ruby. Isabell Blanc of France came through

Gitte Koeck (AUT) Takes the Bronze [click to zoom]

with the second best time in the first run, followed by Lidia Trettel of Italy. Heide Renoth, of Germany, had the fourth best time, which kept her near the young speed demon from France. Sondra Van Ert, the only surviving North American was still in the contest, but eight seconds back and needed a miracle to podium.

Two hours later, the second run was scheduled and on this day no matter what the conditions would be, it was going to happen. The snow did not let up, but there was enough visibility to see at least a few gates ahead. Karine Ruby stood strong with her one and a half second lead over Isabelle Blanc, but needed another mistake free run to take the gold.

Rosey Fletcher (USA) [click to zoom]

After the top fifteen ladies had raced, Karine slid smoothly through the finish to take the gold in front of thousands of screaming spectators. French teammate, Isabelle Blanc, had bad zen today as she was about to finish in second when she missed the last gate and was disqualified. This allowed German Heidi Renoth to take the silver with her two consistent runs. Gitte Koeck, the Austrian International Snowboarding Federation (ISF) dominatrix had the best second run of the day and came back from a deep deficit to take the Bronze for her country. Sondra Van Ert had a good second run, but was too far back to regain much ground and finished twelfth.

Sondra Van Ert (USA) is All Smiles and 12th [click to zoom]

After it was history, the victorious ladies mounted the podium for the flower ceremony and waved to the crowd. They ran over to the ecstatic fans and threw their flowers in appreciation of the support. Karine Ruby was attacked on all sides by media and was whisked off into international rock stardom. Snowboarding's first Olympic Giant Slalom Gold was awarded to a woman who withstood the pressure and the obstacles of the day's course.

— Hans and Brent, Zone Team East, drinking Seattle coffee in Shiga Kogen, Japan

Ruby on the Big Screen Winning Gold [click to zoom]

Results

1 RUBY, Karine [FRA2:17.34
2 RENOTH, Heidi [GER] 2:19.17
3 KOECK, Brigitte [AUT] 2:19.42
4 TRETTEL, Lidia [ITA] 12:19.71
5 FINGERLOS, Ursu [AUT2:20.36
6 POSCH, Marion [ITA] 2:21.34
7 MAI UD EGGEN, Dagmar [ITA] 2:22.42
8 ZEDLACHER, Isabell [AUT] 2:22.92
9 FARMAND, Sandra [GER] 2:23.10
10 BIRKL, Marie [SWE] 2:23.91
11 PLANCHEREL, Cecile [SUI] 2:24.07
12 VAN ERT, Sondra [USA] 2:26.56