Lindsey Jacobellis (Bondville, VT) chalked up her second win in two days Friday as she charged out of the fourth qualifying spot to win the second Japanese World Cup snowboard cross under heavy snows.

With three wins in three starts, Jacobellis currently sits third in the World Cup standings, just 220 points shy of second place finisher Julie Pomagalski of France and 910 points off leader Karine Ruby (also France), who finished fifth for the second day in a row. The 18-year-old Vermonter has also dominated the national circuit by winning every SBX she's entered including the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix in Mammoth Mountain, Calif., and the X Games.

"I'm super-psyched to be riding so well and it's amazing coming to Japan and show the world your abilities," said the Stratton Mountain School grad, who's father also made the trip to Japan along with her older brother Ben, who competed for the men. "The heavy snow was a huge factor today and slowed everything down a lot, plus it was really hard to see. I was a little bit upset after coming out of the qualification in fourth. But it's different when it comes to elbow-to-elbow-competition."

Bumper Cars
The tight competition nearly caused a wreck for Jacobellis in the quarterfinals as Pomagalski collided with her when landing one of the kickers.

"I came down and the next thing I saw was the nose of Julie's board, then it landed on my shoulder and slid right off. It slowed me down a bit and I dropped to third, but was able to make it up. Then in the finals, one of the Canadians was right on my board, but Bennie (her brother) taught me to do little hops and it caused her to go down," said Jacobellis.

"It's great to have my family with me, my dad is so into watching us race, he has water and a jacket ready for us when we need it and he always keeps the positive mind flow going. This was the one he wanted to come to most because he was born on a Japanese military base."

Holland: "...I hope the Euros can keep up"
On the men's side, fellow Mammoth Grand Prix winner Nate Holland (Olympic Valley, CA) led the charge with sixth after finishing third the day before, while teammate and 2003 World Championship silver medalist Seth Wescott (Farmington, ME) was 10th, following a second place finish on Thursday.

"After yesterday, I was pretty fired up for today's race, but I got hung up in the semi's fighting for the hole shot with Delerue and then spun out. I was hoping for someone to blow out, but it didn't happen," said Holland, who has hit the top-10 in every SBX this season. "I'm just taking my style of riding and applying it to the course. Whether it's a powder line at Squaw Valley or a race in Japan."

Next stop for the U.S. SBX squad is the Mar. 5-7 Mount Bachelor Snowboard Classic powered by Chevrolet, when the World Cup returns to the U.S. for the first time since 2001, something that Holland and Co. are looking forward to.

"We're all really pumped for Bachelor because it's in the U.S. and Ryan Neptune is building the course, which will be a lot longer, with a lot of big air and very technical. We've seen his courses at the U.S. Finals last year in Aspen and at this year's Grand Prix in Mammoth and if Bachelor is anything like those, I hope the Euros can keep up."

World Cup action continues from Japan Saturday as multi talent Jacobellis takes to the halfpipe along with teammate Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT), who has also won every World Cup pipe she's entered on the year. Also looking to snag a World Cup podium is World Championship bronze medalist and X Games champ Steve Fisher (St. Louis Park, MN).

FIS SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP
Women's Snowboard Cross

1. Lindsey Jacobellis, Bondville, Vt.
2. Julie Pomagalski, France
3. Erin Simmons, Canada
4. Dominique Maltais, Canada
5. Karine Ruby, France

Men's Snowboard Cross

1. Xavier Delerue, France
2. Robert Fagan, Canada
3. Drew Neilson, Canada
4. Tom Velisek, Canada
5. Francesco Sandrini, Italy

6. Nate Holland, Olympic Valley, Calif.
10. Seth Wescott, Farmington, Maine
13. Jason Smith, Basalt, Colo
38. Ben Jacobellis, Bondville, Vt.

— Courtesy, US Snowboard Team