1:21:04
It was unfortunate,you know,
to have the whole scandal...
1:21:08
with Ross testing positive
for marijuana.
1:21:11
They wanted to strip his medal, and then
they finally allowed him to have it...
1:21:15
Because that wasn't one
of the banned substances.
1:21:17
So because
that whole thing happened,
1:21:19
they cut 80% of the coverage
of snowboarding...
1:21:22
to the American public.
1:21:24
[Richards ] If anything,
he should get a bonus medal...
1:21:26
for actually being able to get
a gold medal while stoned.
1:21:31
[Mike ] We just felt like
they needed us to get over with,
get on the plane and get home.
1:21:35
It sucked.
1:21:37
I'd say that's a good kick-off
for the Olympics for snowboarding.
1:21:40
I wouldn't choose
to have it any otherway.
1:21:50
[Narrator]
Four years later
the Salt Lake City games...
1:21:53
would show snowboarding
in a much different light...
1:21:56
and forever change the mainstream's
perception of the sport.
1:22:00
Kelly Clark won the first gold
for the United States
during that Olympics,
1:22:04
and that was a huge deal.
1:22:06
It really got the attention
of the American public.
1:22:09
They actually gave it
the coverage that it deserved,
1:22:11
and America finally got to see
snowboarding competition,
1:22:14
how it could be.
1:22:16
People freaked out.
1:22:18
Forty-seven years
after the last time the Americans
swept anything in the Olympics,
1:22:22
we get the U.S. snowboard team
come in, and they do it.
1:22:26
And they were the perfect package.
1:22:28
You had the pretty boy,J.J. Thomas.
1:22:30
You had the consummate
professional, Ross Powers,
1:22:32
and the dirtbag, Danny Kass.
1:22:34
I think it was, like, kind of like
a morale booster for the States.
1:22:37
I was just more pumped
that my family was there.
A lot ofthem came out.
1:22:40
So that's where the pride
really kicked in.
1:22:42
It was, like, made my mom proud.
I think she cried. It was awesome.
1:22:46
[ Mock Crying ]
Oh, God. Cut!
1:22:50
[Tina]
With the guys in 2002,
1:22:52
all of a sudden
snowboarders are our heroes.
1:22:54
And they're hopeful for getting
more gold medals at the Olympics
for years to come.