PARK CITY, UT (Jan. 14) - Six Olympians lead the way for 17 U.S. Snowboarding riders in the 2009 World Snowboarding Championships in Gangwon Province, Korea, Jan. 18-24. Headlining the squad will be Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott (Sugarloaf, ME), who looks to reclaim the World Championship gold he won in 2005 and Olympic bronze medalist Chris Klug (Aspen, CO) as well as three-time X Games gold medalist Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA).

“We are stoked to be sending such an awesome group of athletes to World Championships,” said U.S. Snowboarding Program Director Jeremy Forster. “The group represents the perfect mix of athletes to go over there and get the job done for us.”

U.S. Snowboarding rolls in to Korea with three World Championship medals under its belt from 2007 - two of which were second and third place for Wescott and Holland who are both hungry for the top of the podium in 2009.

“We are really bringing a diverse group of athletes to these World Championships. On the one hand we have some seasoned competitors headed there determined to get to the podium and on the other hand we have some young athletes who we are just looking to get some experience in a big competition,” U.S. Snowboarding Head Coach Peter Foley said.

The world's best snowboarders will go toe-to-toe Jan. 18 in snowboardcross, Jan. 20-21 in parallel giant slalom and parallel slalom. The event will be capped off by halfpipe Jan. 23 followed by big air Jan. 24.

The 2009 FIS Snowboard World Championships Team:

Halfpipe Men
Dylan Bidez (9/11/90; Minturn, CO)
Brett Esser (10/12/92; Silverthorne, CO)
Brennen Swanson (2/12/90; Stillwater, MN)
Chris Waker (11/20/88; Manchester Center, VT)

Halfpipe Women
Kelly Marren (8/22/91; Hillsborough, CA)

Snowboardcross Men
Nick Baumgartner (12/17/81; Iron River, MI)
Nate Holland (11/8/78; Squaw Valley, CA)
Graham Watanabe (3/19/82; Sun Valley, ID)
Seth Wescott (6/28/76; Sugarloaf, ME)

Alpine Men
Tyler Jewell (2/21/77; Steamboat Springs, CO)
Zac Kay (8/18/91; Mount Shasta, CA)

Chris Klug (11/18/72; Aspen, CO)
Adam Smith (9/7/80; Bend, OR)

Alpine Women
Michelle Gorgone (10/18/83; Boston)
Lindsay Lloyd (2/18/81; Centerville, UT)
Erica Mueller (6/25/81; Steamboat Springs, CO)
Andi-Jo Stump (11/10/86; Wenatchee, WA)