Rosey Fletcher (Girdwood, AK) harnessed her Alaskan experience Wednesday to take fourth place in parallel slalom at the FIS Snowboard World Championships, while rookie Justin Reiter (Steamboat Springs, CO) nailed his second final in two days.

"It was raining, straight-up Alaska-Style! It was more like bobsled racing than snowboarding. It put the Baker Banked Slalom to shame," said Fletcher about the size of the ruts that built up under the pressure of the best riders in the world and the constant downpour.

"I’m really excited," she said of her performance. "If you were late or got outside the banks you were in trouble. I was behind and then tried to catch up and it didn’t work out." Defending World Cup overall champion Daniela Meuli of Switzerland was the top finisher. U.S. riders Lisa Kosglow (Boulder, CO) and Michelle Gorgone (Sudbury, MA) also made the final.

World Champs and U.S. Snowboarding rookie Justin Reiter was the only men’s Team rider who qualified for both the PGS and PSL at the World Championships. Imagine this: the stress of racing against the best riders in the entire world while your speed suit sticks to you from the constant rain, your goggle streaked with rain and maybe some fog, the course a minefield of deep ruts and inconsistent snow. And did I mention the wet speed suit?

But what about the many heats you must burn in a parallel race? And the snowmobile rides in between each heat - which are pretty cold even when you are not in a wet speed suit? Damn, it’s amazing he even got out of bed this morning. But he did, and he qualified for the second straight day. Reiter has been known to sport a spiked leather jacket. Can’t imagine he wasn’t wishing for it today. Jasey Jay Anderson (CAN) won again, making his Canadian homies proud.

Head Coach Peter Foley had this to say about Reiter," He did awesome to qualify for both (events) in his first World Championships." As for the weather, he added "t just keeps pouring - it never varies. Twenty-four hours a day!"

FIS Snowboard World Championships
Whitstler, B.C. - Jan. 19, 2005
Women's PSL

1. Daniela Meuli, Switzerland
2. Heidi Neururer, Austria
3. Doresia Krings, Austria
4. Rosey Fletcher, Girdwood, Alaska
5. Julie Pomagalski, France

10. Lisa Kosglow, Boulder, Colo.
11. Michelle Gorgone, Sudbury, Mass.
21. Stacia Hookom, Edwards, Colo.

Men's PSL

1. Jasey Jay Anderson, Canada
2. Nicolas Huet, France
3. Siegfried Grabner, Austria
4. Simon Schoch, Switzerland
5. Philipp Schoch, Switzerland

15. Justin Reiter, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
26. Chris Klug, Aspen, Colo.
38. Pete Thorndike, Meredith, NH

DNS
Adam Smith, Bend, Ore.

— Courtesy, US Snowboard Team