NENDAZ, Switzerland (Jan. 17) - U.S. Snowboarding's Michelle Gorgone (Boston) and Justin Reiter (Steamboat Springs, CO) led the way for the U.S. Sunday as each finished 10th during a parallel giant slalom World Cup in Switzerland.

Michael Lambert of Canada won the men's race, followed in second by Andreas Prommegger of Austria in second and Benjamin Karl, also of Austria, in third.

According to U.S. Snowboarding Alpine Coach Jan Wengelin, while the result was decent for Reiter, more focus could have helped the men's side go further with three riders in the finals.

"This was a big step up for Justin to make it where he is - little frustrating to not go further, but a good result," Wengelin said. "It was a tough go. We had three guys in the final, which was good. But it all fell off the table after the first round. They lost their focus a little bit."

Joining Reiter in the final was Adam Smith (Bend, OR) who finished 12th and Vic Wild (White Salmon, WA) who was 14th.

On the women's side, Ekaterina Tudegesheva of Russia won. Nicolien Sauerbreij of the Netherlands was second and Switzerland's Fraenzi Maegert- Kohli was third.

For Wengelin, while not the result they were hoping for, Gorgone's finish puts her in a pretty good place for the 2010 Games.

"This was good for Michelle to get in a top 10 result for the season. Wengelin said.

Gorgone could have likely gone further in the race. Wengelin says she just needs to clean up small mistakes in her riding.

"She just had a couple small mistakes in her run and that's what kept her from moving on to the next round," Wengelin said.

According to the coach, equipment problems earlier in the season have held Gorgone back, but with her top 10 Sunday, she's likely past those frustrations.

"It's been a long time for her after a tough season. It took a long time to get over her challenges, but she's finally riding with confidence," Wengelin said.

Up next, the team will compete in its last World Cup before the 2010 Olympics in Stoneham, Quebec Jan. 24. Tyler Jewell (Steamboat Springs, CO) has the best qualifying result with a fourth earlier this month. The Olympic Team will be announced Jan. 25.

"We're going to go out to Stoneham and let it rip. It's their last chance," Wengelin said.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2010 LG FIS Snowboard World Cup
Nendaz, Switzerland - Jan. 17, 2010
Parallel Giant Slalom

Men
1. Michael Lambert, Canada
2. Andreas Prommegger, Austria
3. Benjamin Karl, Austria
4. Rok Marguc, Slovenia
5. Roland Fischnaller, Italy
-
10. Justin Reiter, Steamboat Springs, CO
12. Adam Smith, Bend, OR
14. Vic Wild, White Salmon, WA
- (16 make finals)
17. Chris Klug, Aspen, CO
27. Zac Kay, Mount Shasta, CA
40. Tyler Jewell, Steamboat Springs, CO
55. Darren Ratcliffe, Steamboat Springs, CO

Women
1. Ekaterina Tudegesheva, Russia
2. Nicolien Sauerbreij, Netherlands
3. Fraenzi Maegert- Kohli, Switzerland
4. Ekaterina Ilyukhina, Russia
5. Isabella Laboeck, Germany
-
10. Michelle Gorgone, Boston
37. Lindsay Lloyd, Centerville, UT
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