Aspen, CO – Stratton Mountain, Vt.’s Lindsey Jacobellis nailed down her fourth snowboard cross gold in a row Saturday, making her the first woman to ever four-peat in X Games history. Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, of Girdwood, Alaska, finished right behind her teammate to take the silver. Deborah Anthonioz of France earned bronze.n”This is my second go at a four-peat and it feels good to finally get it,” Jacobellis said. “I was just trying to get out in front and stay out of traffic so that I could pick whatever line I wanted.”
Jacobellis was a standout through all her heats, but in the final she laid on the pedal to push herself well ahead of the pack of female riders behind
her and stayed there till she crossed the finish line. Jacobellis credits her aggressive riding style to the fact that she’s always keeping up with the guys.
“I grew up riding with my brother and he never let me go the easy way out. Now I’m chasing the rest of the guys on the Team,” Jacobellis said. “They give me all the confidence I need. It helps a lot when you have something that helps you like that.”
Another thing Jacobellis felt giving her the edge on the competition Saturday was a summer full of change for the Olympic silver medalist.
“I didn’t snowboard more than two days this summer in Mt. Hood. I was surfing, biking and working out here and there. I loved it. I came back in the fall and I have never had so much fun,” Jacobellis said.
Right behind Jacobellis was her teammate Chythlook-Sifsof, who said she was happy to be able to medal in the event, let alone come in right behind Jacobellis.
“Coming runner up to Lindsey [Jacobellis] feels good. She is one of the strongest riders in the world,” said Chythlook-Sifsof. “It is good to train with her and be a part of the same team and it is good to be here.”
Just like their male teammates, Jacobellis and Chythlook-Sifsof are now moving along to the Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix at Park City’s Canyons Resort Feb. 11-12.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2011 Winter X Games
Aspen, CO – Jan. 29, 2011
Women’s SBX
1. Lindsey Jacobellis, Stratton Mountain, VT
2. Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, Girdwood, AK
3. Deborah Anthonioz, France
4. Emilie Aubry, Switzerland
5. Alexandra Jekova, Bulgaria