PSU snowboarders take Tussey

On one side of the slope, random skiers and snowboarders glided quietly down the hill. On the other side, fans yelled, music blared and Penn State snowboarders Pete Mozzone and Erich Fitschen could be heard over the loudspeakers giving their commentary of the second annual Boardercross competition at Tussey Mountain.

There were 55 competitors, with only four women in the women's bracket, 15 competitors in the men's 17 and under and 36 in the men's 18 and over. The event was videotaped for the Penn State news show "In Focus," which will be aired on C-NET shortly after spring break.

The course started with two quick drops and a bank, wound from side to side in a snake-like pattern, with a jump in the middle and another large jump at the finish line, where they ended the race with an aerial move or, in some cases, a crash.

Four people raced in each heat and they had to stay between sets of flags set up approximately 25 feet apart. The winner and runner-up of each heat advanced, while the other two riders were given a second chance in the loser's bracket.

Although the competition was open to anyone, members of the Penn State snowboard team dominated the 18 and over, which was won with a nearly flawless run by Penn State snowboarder Brian Higgins. He ended his victory with a back flip through the finish line. Coming in a close second was teammate and team president Chris Mitchell.

The women's competition was won easily by Amy Harpster, not a team member.

Most riders fell numerous times, but the winners usually stayed up the whole race or fell only once. Individual spills resulted in a few collisions with other riders and often forced riders to swerve away from downed riders.

Brad Schenck, a high school student from Lock Haven who is considering attending Penn State and joining the snowboard team, was one of the many crash victims.

"I was coming down in dead last," he said. "This guy fell down and he was getting up. I didn't have my helmet on and I totally nailed him. My tongue was bleeding and my head was spinning. It was crazy."

One thing that stood out was the lack of female competitors, despite there being more than 20 women on the Penn State team.

"The majority of the women don't think they're good enough," Mazzone said, "but when they see that only a few girls even entered the contest, they wish they would have entered. A few of the girls had to work."

Runner-up Canice Leary, a high school senior from Wenonah, N.J., sporting a large patch of blood on her cheek, said, "A lot of girls think it's a guy's sport. I like to go against convention. Look for me in the 2002 Olympics."