There’s no doubt that some of the snowboarding events in Sochi were big disappointments for the US. The US didn’t get their athlete into the elimination rounds of the parallel giant slalom or slalom events. Shaun White only competed in the halfpipe and couldn’t win his third straight gold. Yet they also won three gold medals and two bronze medals so the Olympics certainly weren’t all bad.

Men’s Parallel Giant Slalom

Justin Reiter was the only competitor for the US in the parallel giant slalom. Reiter was off the pace on his first run on the red course and tried to get back in contention on the blue course but wasn’t quick enough as he placed 24th and failed to qualify for the 16-man knockout round. It was the first time in the five Olympics the event has been held without a top ten finish for the US.

Men’s Parallel Slalom

Justin Reiter seemed to do better in the parallel slalom at first as he finished the red course in good shape. Then it was announced he was disqualified for touching a gate and he was eliminated. This was the first parallel slalom at the Olympics.

Men’s Halfpipe

In the men’s halfpipe Shaun White, Danny Davis, and Greg Bretz all advanced to the final. Once there they disappointed as both Davis and Bretz couldn’t put down a clean run and White’s best effort fell short in 4th with a 90.25. White was the top American in the event for the third straight Olympics but for the first time since the first event in Nagano the US didn’t win the event and for the first time ever they didn’t medal.

Women’s Halfpipe

On the women’s side the US was much stronger in the halfpipe. Arielle Gold crashed and injured herself in training and couldn’t start but the three who did all had a lot of success. Hannah Teter just missed out on medaling for the third straight Olympics as she placed fourth and was just 0.25 points behind Kelly Clark who finished third with a 90.50. The US grabbed a gold as well with Kaitlyn Farrington winning by 0.25 points herself over Torah Bright. It was the third time in four Olympics that the US has won the event and made it five for five on medaling.

Men’s Slopestyle

In the first ever men’s slopestyle event the US only got one of their three athletes into the final as Ryan Stassel and Chas Guldemond finished 6th and 7th in the semifinal. The man in the final, Sage Kotsenburg used a 93.50 on his first run to put up the best score and grab the gold.

Women’s Slopestyle

The US made it two-for-two in grabbing the first golds in the slopestyle when Jamie Anderson took first for the US on the women’s side. Anderson was joined by Karly Shorr in the final as she placed sixth Jessika Jenson and Ty Walker just missed out on final spots when they finished fifth and sixth in the semifinals.

Men’s Snowboard Cross

The US advanced two of their four athletes in the snowboard cross from the 1/8 finals with Nick Baumgartner and Nate Holland finishing fourth in their 1/8 finals. Trevor Jacob got eliminated in the semifinals but placed ninth overall while Alex Deibold used thirds in the 1/8 final, quarterfinal, and semifinal to squeak by each time. He did it again in the final to give himself a bronze medal and make it three straight Olympics that the US has medaled in the event. It was the first time the US failed to win it however.

Women’s Snowboard Cross

On the women’s side Jackie Hernandez took a fall on her seeding run and wasn’t able to compete in the rest of the event. Lindsey Jacobellis looked good until losing it late on her semifinal run and finishing sixth in the semifinal. Faye Gulini squeaked bye with thirds in the quarterfinals and semifinals and reached the final. In the final she finished fourth and missed out on a medal. The US has now failed to medal in the last two Olympics after Jacobellis took silver in the first ever event in 2002.

Previous Olympic Recaps

Biathlon
Alpine Skiing
Short Track Speed Skating
Freestyle Skiing
Curling
Nordic Combined
Figure Skating
Ski Jumping
Skeleton
Luge