Two-time world junior medalist Michele Gorgone (Sudbury, MA) scored her first major league podium Friday with a third place parallel giant slalom finish at the Whistler World Cup. On the mens' side, Adam Smith (Tangent, OR), who won the historic indoor World Cup in Landraaf, continued his early season success with seventh.

Six U.S. riders swamped the final with two-time Olympian Lisa Kosglow (Boulder, CO) finishing three shy of Gorgone in sixth followed by Rosey Fletcher (Girdwood, AK) in ninth and Stacia Hookom (Edwards, CO) with 13th. Olympic bronze medalist Chris Klug (Aspen, CO) finished 13th for the men.

Winning the women's race was reigning World Cup champ Ursula Bruhin of Switzerland followed by teammate Daniela Mueli. Seigfreid Grabner of Austria won the men's event ahead of Simon Schoch of Switzerland and Stefan Kaltschuetz, also of Austria.

"I'm really in shock right now," said the 20-year-old Gorgone, who topped her first national event just three weeks ago with a Continental Cup win at Copper Mountain, Colorado. "I was a little jet lagged after flying all the way back from one race in Sweden, but I felt awesome this morning and it's amazing to go from winning a national event to a World Cup podium."

A World Cup podium that she nearly topped before suffering a semifinal fall while racing Bruhin.

"I was super nervous lining up against Ursula, it was easily more nerves than I'd had all day. The snow got soft and rutty as the day went on and the conditions were rough, but I feel this finish is a real breakthrough for me. All you need is one good result to give you the momentum," said Gorgone, who is nicknamed Pirelli after the famous Italian racing tire.

Momentum is what Smith has been riding throughout the early season and he maintained it at Whistler outlasting reigning World Cup parallel champ Mathieu Bozzetto in the first final round before bowing out to Schoch.

"Smith has been riding solid for a long time," said Head Coach Peter Foley. "This season isn't a huge jump in his ability, it's a huge jump in his results - he's just getting it done. He knocked out Bozzetto fair and square and that's huge for confidence. I was hoping Michele would win and she had the shot, but the course just got more and more bumpy - her crash was the only mistake she made all day, but it was a huge learning experience."

FIS SNOWBOARD WORLD CUP
Women's Parallel Giant Slalom

1. Ursula Bruhin, Switzerland
2. Daniela Mueli, Switzerland
3. Michele Gorgone, Sudbury, Mass.

6. Lisa Kosglow, Boulder, Colo.
9. Rosey Fletcher, Girdwood, Alaska
13. Stacia Hookom, Edwards, Colo.

Men's Parallel Giant Slalom

1. Seigfried Grabner, Austria
2. Simon Schoch, Switzerland
3. Stefan Kaltschuetz, Austria

7. Adam Smith, Tangent, Ore.
13. Chris Klug, Aspen, Colo.
25. Eric Warren, Bennington, Vt.
28. Pete Thorndike, Meredith, N.H.
29 Anton Pogue, Hood River, Ore.

— Courtesy, US Snowboard Team