Editing Ross Powers

{{short description|American snowboarder}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name             = Ross Powers
| image            =
| image_size       = <!--Only for images narrower than 220 pixels.-->
| birth_name       =
| full_name        = <!--if different-->
| nationality      = American
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1979|2|10}}<ref name=sports-reference>{{cite web |title=Ross Powers |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/po/ross-powers-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417224658/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/po/ross-powers-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |website=sports-reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=23 September 2014}}</ref>
| birth_place      = [[Bennington, Vermont]], U.S.<ref name=sports-reference />
| death_date       =
| death_place      =
| hometown         = [[Londonderry, Vermont]], U.S.
| height           = 5 ft 10 in<ref name=fis-ski>{{cite web |title=Ross Powers |url=http://www.fis-ski.com/snowboard/cross/athletes/athlete=powers-ross-48857/ |website=fis-ski.com |publisher=[[International Ski Federation]] |access-date=23 September 2014 |archive-date=March 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322191011/http://www.fis-ski.com/snowboard/cross/athletes/athlete=powers-ross-48857/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| weight           = 179 lb<ref name=fis-ski />
| website          =
| country          = United States
| sport            = [[Snowboarding]]
| event            = [[Halfpipe#Snow sports|Halfpipe]]
| highestranking   =
| pb               =
| medaltemplates   =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[snowboarding]] }}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Snowboarding at the Winter Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Salt Lake City]] | [[Snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Men's halfpipe|Halfpipe]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Nagano]] | [[Snowboarding at the 1998 Winter Olympics – Men's halfpipe|Halfpipe]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[FIS Snowboard World Championships|World Championships]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[FIS Snowboarding World Championships 1996|1996 Lienz]] | Halfpipe }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Winter X Games]] }}
{{MedalSilver | [[Winter X Games XV|2011 Aspen]] | Best method }}
}}

'''Ross Powers''' (born February 10, 1979) is an American world champion [[halfpipe]] [[snowboarding|snowboarder]] and Olympic gold medalist. Hailing from [[South Londonderry, Vermont]], he is currently the director of the snowboarding program at the [[Stratton Mountain School]] in [[Stratton, Vermont]].

==Career==
Though he originally rode at [[Stratton Mountain Resort|Stratton Mountain]], Vermont,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.skisnowboard.com/stratton/snowboarding.html|title=Stratton — Parks and pipes|website=www.skisnowboard.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-22}}</ref> his home mountain is now [[Okemo Mountain|Okemo]], Vermont.<ref>[http://www.okemo.com/okemowinter/pressroom/presskit/rosspowers.asp Okemo website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220125611/http://okemo.com/okemowinter/pressroom/presskit/rosspowers.asp |date=2009-02-20 }}</ref> Powers helps with the design of the [[Superpipe]] and also helped design the RossCross Family Terrain Park. Powers also runs a snowboard camp through Okemo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allamericanspeakers.com/speakerbio/Ross_Powers.php|title=Ross Powers {{!}} Speakers Bureau and Booking Agent Info|website=www.allamericanspeakers.com|access-date=2018-03-22}}</ref> He led the U.S. sweep in the [[2002 Winter Olympic Games/Snowboarding|2002 Winter Olympics men's halfpipe competition]], one day after his 23rd birthday.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://vtdigger.org/2018/02/13/vermont-gold-medalist-ross-powers-pays-forward/|title=Vermont gold medalist Ross Powers pays it forward - VTDigger|last=O'Connor|first=Kevin|date=2018-02-13|work=VTDigger|access-date=2018-03-22|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/11/olympics/americans-sweep-the-halfpipe.html|title=Americans Sweep the Halfpipe|last=Wong|first=Edward|date=2002-02-11|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-03-22|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> This is the first time the Americans have swept a Winter Olympic event since the men's figure skaters in 1956.<ref name=":1" /> Powers claimed the gold medal with a score of 46.1.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.teamusa.org/News/2012/February/11/Ross-Powers-moment-of-perfection|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030624/https://www.teamusa.org/News/2012/February/11/Ross-Powers-moment-of-perfection|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 23, 2018|title=Ross Powers- moment of perfection|date=2012-02-11|work=Team USA|access-date=2018-03-22|language=en}}</ref>

During his final run, Powers dropped in and aired out with an 18-foot [[method grab]] (a world record at that time{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}}), and followed up with two [[McTwist]]s, a cab 720 [[indy grab]], a frontside 720 indy grab and a switch frontside air.<ref name=":1" />

[[File:LG Snowboard FIS World Cup (5435933500).jpg|thumb|250px|[[Maximilian Stark]], [[Alberto Schiavon]], [[Nick Baumgartner]], Ross Powers]]
He regularly competes in such events as the US and European Opens of Snowboarding, the Vans Triple Crown (now known simply as the Vans Cup), and the [[X-Games]]. During the 2004/2005 season, Ross won the Mt. Bachelor Grand Prix event and went on to be the overall champion for the series.{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ross Powers: Biography |url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/ross-powers |access-date=10 August 2024 |website=Olympics}}</ref>

In 2007 Powers shifted gears and returned to racing in [[snowboard cross]]. He had his first world cup podium in that discipline in February 2009 at [[Sunday River (ski resort)|Sunday River]], Maine, and again in December 2009 at [[Telluride Ski Resort|Telluride]], Colorado.

In 2010 Powers narrowly missed earning a spot on the US Olympic Team for snowboard cross.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://olympics.nbcsports.com/2017/05/24/catching-up-with-ross-powers/|title=Catching up with Ross Powers|last=Zaccardi|first=Nick|date=2017-05-24|work=OlympicTalk|access-date=2018-03-22|language=en-US}}</ref> He finished the season with his SBX World Cup rank at 11th.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.fis-ski.com/dynamic/results.html?sector=SB&competitorid=48857&raceid=8631|title=World Cup - Men's Snowboardcross OFFICIAL RESULTS 19.03.2010|website=data.fis-ski.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-22}}</ref>

In April 2010 Powers was named director of the snowboarding program at The [[Stratton Mountain School]] (SMS), in Vermont.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.reformer.com/stories/sms-hires-ross-powers,95392|title=SMS hires Ross Powers|date=2010-04-21|work=The Brattleboro Reformer|access-date=2018-03-22|language=en}}</ref> Powers is a 1997 graduate of SMS. His current{{When|date=March 2018}} snowboard sponsor is RAMP Sports.

Powers resides in [[Stratton, Vermont]], with his wife Marisa and daughters, Victoria and Meredith.<ref>{{cite web |title=SMS |url=http://www.gosms.org/snowboardingprogram |publisher=open publishing |access-date=10 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802191753/http://www.gosms.org/snowboardingprogram |archive-date=2 August 2012 }}</ref>

==Video game appearances==
Powers is a playable character in the video game ''[[Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder]]''.<ref>{{Citation|title=Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder - IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/games/shaun-palmers-pro-snowboarder|language=en|access-date=2020-06-21}}</ref> and the video game Cool Boarders 4.

==Philanthropy==

In 2001 Powers founded the non-profit Ross Powers Foundation, a philanthropic organization that is dedicated to providing financial aid to promising athletes from all economic backgrounds. In 2010, the Foundation provided assistance to a number of up-and-coming snowboarders.<ref>[http://www.rosspowersfoundation.org/history.html History of The Ross Powers Foundation]. Rosspowersfoundation.org. Retrieved on 2014-04-12.</ref>

In 2010 The Ross Powers Foundation teamed up with Olympic gold medalist [[Michael Phelps]] and formed the Level Field Fund,<ref name=":0" /> a non-profit organization with the mission statement: "The Level Field Fund strives 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."<ref>{{cite web |title=Level Field Fund |url=http://www.levelfieldfund.org/about |publisher=open publishing |access-date=10 March 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{FIS snowboarder}}
* {{X Games profile|old_id=3013044}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|ross-powers}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Team USA|new_id=ross-powers|old_id=PO/Ross-Powers|archive=20221027023401}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060111044331/http://www.offthepodium.com/ Off the Podium website]
* [http://www.rosspowersfoundation.org/history.html Ross Powers Foundation]

{{Footer Olympic Champions in Snowboarding Men}}
{{Footer World Champions SB Halfpipe Men}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powers, Ross}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Bennington, Vermont]]
[[Category:American male snowboarders]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Vermont]]
[[Category:People from Windsor County, Vermont]]
[[Category:Snowboarders at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Snowboarders at the 1998 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1998 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in snowboarding]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in snowboarding]]
[[Category:X Games competitors]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]