Salt Lake 2002 halfpipe gold medallist Ross Powers joins FIS halfpipe TD ranks

Back in 2002 at the Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games Ross Powers won the gold medal to lead a historic sweep of the snowboard halfpipe podium for the USA on home soil, earning a score of 46.1 out of a possible 50 points on his way to victory.

Now, 20 years later, Powers has chosen a new forum within which to put down a top score, as the 43-year-old recently earned a perfect 100% on the test to secure his accreditation as a FIS technical delegate on the international level.

While Powers last World Cup competition came on the SBX tour back in December of 2012, the two-time Olympic medallist has remained actively involved in snowsports as the Director of Snowboarding at the Stratton Mountain School and through his Ross Powers Foundation and the Level Field Fund, the goal of which is “to bridge gaps in funding for uniquely talented athletes, following the belief that opportunities to pursue excellence in sport should not be limited by an athlete’s financial situation.”

Now, as an accredited FIS halfpipe technical delegate, Powers will be assuming a hands-on approach at the World Cup level once again, 10 years after he last wore the bib at the Telluride SBX World Cup.

We got in touch with Ross over the weekend for a little Q&A about this next step in his life as a snowboarder. Read on for more…

FIS - It’s been just over 20 years since your gold medal win at Salt Lake - and 10 years since your last World Cup start (at the Telluride SBX). You’ve now earned your TD accreditation and you could be pipe-side as an official at a World Cup event as early as December when we kick off the halfpipe season in Copper Mountain (USA).

What made you pursue the TD route and what are you most looking forward to about once again being part of the Snowboard World Cup and the competition scene in general?

Ross Powers - Time sure does fly by. The 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City were such an amazing experience for me and it’s sometimes hard to believe it was 20 years ago. I did also really enjoy the Telluride SBX World Cup track and was happy to earn my last WC podium there.

I first started pursuing my FIS TD license around three years ago when the USASA/FIS Futures Tour Series was launched. I wanted to help our local USASA Southern Vermont Series be able to hold this level of events in our area. I look forward to working with everyone to help provide fair, safe and fun events. I feel it's also another way for me to give back to the sport I love.

FIS - Not only did you earn your TD accreditation, you did it with a perfect 100% score - were you surprised by that, or is that just a result of the way you approach anything you set your mind to? Or, just good study habits?

RP - I worked hard and prepared for the test. I was surprised and happy to get a 100% on it. I'm thankful that I had a great group of TD's with so much knowledge who helped me along the way, such as Ted Martin, who mentored me through the process, and Bill Van Gilder who was very helpful at events. I also have to thank John Jett for his help and letting me earn one of my shadow assignments under his supervision at Copper Mountain.

FIS - What are your thoughts on the level that halfpipe snowboarding has achieved since you hung up the bib, especially when you see things that were pretty much unimaginable 10-15 years ago like Ayumu’s winning run in Beijing with the lead-off triple, Scotty’s silver run with the switch back 12, and Jan’s bronze with switch dub alley-oop rodeo 10 nose?

RP - The 2022 Olympic halfpipe competition was unbelievable. It's been so impressive to see Ayumu and Scotty pushing the level of their riding and putting it down on the biggest stage. Kaishu's record breaking method was insane. Jan's double alley-opp rodeo and Taylor's double Michalchuk 1080 were also so cool to see. I hope to be a TD at an Olympic snowboard competition in the future.

FIS - How crazy it that, with JJ (Thomas) coaching for the US team and Danny (Kass) coaching a number of different athletes in recent years, all three of the riders from the historic Salt Lake podium sweep are still influential figures in snowboard competition scene at the highest level?

RP - I’m always so excited to see Danny and JJ out on the mountains and at events. JJ was recently named the US Snowboard Team head halfpipe coach and Danny is the US rookie team halfpipe coach. I'm the Director of Snowboarding at Stratton Mountain School in Vermont. It's really cool the three of us and so many other riders are involved in our sport.

FIS - What would you say to other riders looking to remain involved in competitive snowboarding after their days of chasing the podium are over, in terms of advice or encouragement?

RP - I feel the reason why so many of us stay involved is because of our love for snowboarding, and there are many ways to stay involved after a riders competitive or filming career. I feel the more snowboarders that stay involved the better for our sport and the next generations of riders. If you’re a rider looking for ways to stay involved or to start a new career you should reach out to the people working in the areas of snowboarding you have interests in.

After speaking to Ross we also reached out to FIS Snowboard/Freestyle/Freeski Technical Delegate Commissioner Ted Martin for his thoughts on having such a high-profile former athlete join the TD ranks, and he expressed his enthusiasm about a Olympic gold medallist earning his accreditation, as well as his hopes that Ross’s participation will encourage others to follow suit.

“Having a former competitor joining the ranks of accredited technical delegates is always a positive development, and in the case of Ross it’s extra special as this is the first time we’ve had an Olympic gold medal-winning athlete join the TD ranks for FIS Snowboard or FIS Freestyle/Freeski.

“We’re excited to have Ross back involved in FIS Snowboard on the World Cup level, and we’re hopeful this will encourage even more ex-athletes and Olympic medallists to seek a role at future FIS events and World Cups after their competitive careers are over.”

With his Salt Lake 2002 gold, his Nagano 1998 bronze, Lienz 1996 World Championships gold, two halfpipe World Cup overall titles, nine World Cup victories, 23 World Cup podiums, two X Games gold medals, and so many other accolades earned throughout his 20 year pro career, Ross Powers is inarguably one of the greatest to ever do it, and we couldn't be more excited about having "Ross the Boss" back in the mix on the World Cup circuit.