Hannah Teter

Torah Bright's Olympic Games preparation was not exactly ideal: two crashes, two concussions and a trip to the hospital in the span of a few days in January. The snowboarder was off the hill and her main competitors were throwing down dazzling runs in the pipe at the high-profile X Games in Aspen, Colo. What about those dreams of Olympic gold for the Aussie native? Most certainly . . . not so bright. "It wasn't the easiest month, I'll say that," Bright said. "I think I spent more time off snow than I did on. But this year I didn't want to peak at X Games.

Torah Bright's Olympic Games preparation was not exactly ideal: two crashes, two concussions and a trip to the hospital in the span of a few days in January. The snowboarder was off the hill and her main competitors were throwing down dazzling runs in the pipe at the high-profile X Games in Aspen, Colo. What about those dreams of Olympic gold for the Aussie native? Most certainly . . . not so bright. "It wasn't the easiest month, I'll say that," Bright said. "I think I spent more time off snow than I did on. But this year I didn't want to peak at X Games.

Hannah Teter didn't waste any time drawing her line in the snow. The defending Olympic gold medalist in the women's halfpipe was talking about what she was going to drink and eat at the Olympics and mentioned a certain fast-food franchise. You know, that place with the golden (not medal) arches. " NOT ," she said, grinning. She felt that way long before the movie "Super Size Me" and hasn't gobbled down a Big Mac or anything on the menu in 10 years. "I have seen parts of it," Teter said.

Hannah Teter didn't waste any time drawing her line in the snow. The defending Olympic gold medalist in the women's halfpipe was talking about what she was going to drink and eat at the Olympics and mentioned a certain fast-food franchise. You know, that place with the golden (not medal) arches. " NOT ," she said, grinning. She felt that way long before the movie "Super Size Me" and hasn't gobbled down a Big Mac or anything on the menu in 10 years. "I have seen parts of it," Teter said.

Most snowboarders have an iPod inside their parka as they fly above the halfpipe, letting the music carry them across the ice and snow and into another world. Hannah Teter takes the idea of "another world" to a different level. Right next to her iPod, she also carries a picture she took of schoolchildren in Africa, the ones she wants to help through her snowboarding. The Olympic gold medalist, best known to many in the "mainstream" as that dippy, groovy, kid from Vermont who makes maple syrup, has taken a more serious approach as she prepares for the next Winter Games.

Only one person had a shot to beat snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler at the Winter X Games. It just happened to be Kelly Clark, an Olympic champion in 2002, and winner of all but one of the qualifiers for Vancouver. With Bleiler waiting and watching in the finish area, Clark dropped in for her third and final run and threw down a stellar performance, including a huge frontside 900. Then the hard part began. . . . waiting for the judges. Bleiler, the hometown Aspen hero, won the women's superpipe final by 0.66, edging Clark on Saturday night at Buttermilk Mountain.

It was such a beautiful Monday afternoon that Hannah Teter and Gretchen Bleiler just couldn't get enough snowboarding. And the beautiful afternoon, amid the towering Alps beneath a bright blue sky, became the most glorious day of their athletic careers. Teter, looking carefree, soared and spun gracefully to a triumph worthy of an Olympic gold medal in the women's halfpipe.

When Hannah Teter was just a tyke, brothers Abe and Elijah bounced her from a trampoline 15 feet into the air and onto the roof of their parents' car. Splat! They expected her to run crying into the house. Instead, she climbed down from the car and jumped back onto the trampoline. They knew then that she was one tough little girl.

It was like Michael Jordan sneaking outside to a nearby playground and shooting hoops. During the seventh game of the NBA Finals. At halftime. On a clear Alpine afternoon blanketed with the purity of snow and sport, the Winter Olympics' new cover girl did the strangest thing imaginable. Before snowboarding for gold, Hannah Teter snowboarded for fun. During the short break between the qualifying and final sessions of the women's halfpipe Monday, while clinging to a lead, she clung to her roots.

If the X Games' women's superpipe competition was a barometer for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, put Australia's Torah Bright atop the podium. And place a large order of painkillers for a powerful U.S. contingent, which has been favored to claim at least two medals at the Vancouver Games but took some lumps Friday. Bright was brilliant and smooth in posting a winning run that included a backside 360, a switch-backside 720, a 540 McTwist, or back-flip, and a Cab 720. Her winning score: 91.33.

Only one person had a shot to beat snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler at the Winter X Games. It just happened to be Kelly Clark, an Olympic champion in 2002, and winner of all but one of the qualifiers for Vancouver. With Bleiler waiting and watching in the finish area, Clark dropped in for her third and final run and threw down a stellar performance, including a huge frontside 900. Then the hard part began. . . . waiting for the judges. Bleiler, the hometown Aspen hero, won the women's superpipe final by 0.66, edging Clark on Saturday night at Buttermilk Mountain.

If the X Games' women's superpipe competition was a barometer for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, put Australia's Torah Bright atop the podium. And place a large order of painkillers for a powerful U.S. contingent, which has been favored to claim at least two medals at the Vancouver Games but took some lumps Friday. Bright was brilliant and smooth in posting a winning run that included a backside 360, a switch-backside 720, a 540 McTwist, or back-flip, and a Cab 720. Her winning score: 91.33.

Most snowboarders have an iPod inside their parka as they fly above the halfpipe, letting the music carry them across the ice and snow and into another world. Hannah Teter takes the idea of "another world" to a different level. Right next to her iPod, she also carries a picture she took of schoolchildren in Africa, the ones she wants to help through her snowboarding. The Olympic gold medalist, best known to many in the "mainstream" as that dippy, groovy, kid from Vermont who makes maple syrup, has taken a more serious approach as she prepares for the next Winter Games.

When Hannah Teter was just a tyke, brothers Abe and Elijah bounced her from a trampoline 15 feet into the air and onto the roof of their parents' car. Splat! They expected her to run crying into the house. Instead, she climbed down from the car and jumped back onto the trampoline. They knew then that she was one tough little girl.

It was like Michael Jordan sneaking outside to a nearby playground and shooting hoops. During the seventh game of the NBA Finals. At halftime. On a clear Alpine afternoon blanketed with the purity of snow and sport, the Winter Olympics' new cover girl did the strangest thing imaginable. Before snowboarding for gold, Hannah Teter snowboarded for fun. During the short break between the qualifying and final sessions of the women's halfpipe Monday, while clinging to a lead, she clung to her roots.

It was such a beautiful Monday afternoon that Hannah Teter and Gretchen Bleiler just couldn't get enough snowboarding. And the beautiful afternoon, amid the towering Alps beneath a bright blue sky, became the most glorious day of their athletic careers. Teter, looking carefree, soared and spun gracefully to a triumph worthy of an Olympic gold medal in the women's halfpipe.

Gretchen Bleiler dominated U.S. qualifying, winning four of five events, and Hannah Teter (third at the world championships) was close behind. Kelly Clark, the 2002 Olympic gold medalist, was injured during the first qualifiers but still made the team and won the halfpipe portion of the recent Winter X Games, which Bleiler and Teter sat out. -- Pete Thomas