Bidez lands on U.S. Team
Oh, to be Clair Bidez.
The 16-year-old Copper Mountain Freeride Team member was riding the halfpipe with X-Games gold medalist Hannah Teter on Thursday, when Bidez found out some good news – she made the U.S. Snowboard B Team.
Teter, an A Team member, was there to congratulate her new teammate during the Burton photo shoot.
“I knew I was in the running for the C Team,” said Bidez, who is also a member of Team Summit’s snowboard team. “Mike (Jankowski, U.S. Team halfpipe assistant coach) told me that at an event earlier this season. But I don’t think this has changed my goals very much.”
Bidez has had her eyes set on the 2006 Winter Olympics for years, working through the U.S. Gold Team the past two years. She had numerous top 10 finishes in Vans Triple Crown and Grand Prix events this season.
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Bidez is headed to summer camps, including one May 17 at Mammoth Mountain, Calif. After receiving the honor, she wanted to thank her long-time coach, Jim Smith from Team Summit.
Bidez’s sponsors include Burton, The Other Side, Oakley, Wigwam, Powerbar, Howard Head Sports Medicine, Team Summit and Copper Mountain.