Snowboard, alpine ski team could carry U.S.

Shaun White is the linchpin of one of the top teams that the U.S. will bring to Vancouver. The Washington Post's Barry Svrluga wrote about the expectations facing the ski and snowboard teams in a Jan. 26 article:

The snowboard team, formally announced Monday night, will feature four Olympic gold medalists: extreme-sports celebrities Shaun White and Hannah Teter, who both won halfpipe gold medals four years ago in Turin, and 2006 snowboard cross champ Seth Wescott, as well as 2002 winner Kelly Clark. ...

White, 23, debuted a new trick and won on back-to-back nights over the weekend in Park City, showing he is ready to defend his gold. Clark, who also won twice in Park City, will try to get back the gold that Teter won in Turin. Two other stars, Gretchen Bleiler (halfpipe) and Lindsey Jacobellis (snowboard cross), are back again after winning silver in 2006.