Kelly Clark is known as a pioneer and trend setter for snowboarding. She won Olympic gold in 2002, missed the podium in 2006, and is hopeful for 2010. Her miss of the podium was due to a missed landing of a trick far more difficult than she needed to place. There is little hype surrounding her unlike some of her teammates and male counterparts, but her legend within the sport is undeniable. The New York Times reports:
She is brimming with confidence now. Clark has not finished worse than second in any event she has entered over the last two seasons. She won the United States Snowboarding Grand Prix in Copper Mountain, Colo., earlier this month, giving her a quick advantage in qualifying for the ultra-competitive American Olympic team. “This is definitely some of the best riding that I’ve done, and the strongest start to a season, ever,” she said during an interview in Copper Mountain.