Moderator

  (2:02 PM)

Send in your questions to Ross, now!

Ross Powers

  (2:13 PM)

Hey everybody. Thanks for logging on. I'm psyched to chat with you.

Jake (Rhode Island)

We're 100 days away from Torino today. What's on your mind??

Ross Powers

  (2:15 PM)

Yeah! I'm looking forward for the season, I'm heading out West to Mamoth, California next week. I can't believe it's so soon. I'm excited.

Owen (St. Lawrence)

Hey Ross, are you training in Olympic Village right now? Do you spend your days in Lake Placid? What's the atmosphere like there? Who are some cool Olympians to look out for?

Ross Powers

  (2:16 PM)

My days, right now, actually, right now I'm in New York City doing some promo stuff for the Bank of America Hometown Hopefuls Program. The Olympic Villiage is just during the Olympic time so hopefully I'll make it there. I've been to Lake Placid before, but I probably wont' be training there this season.

Maya (Bedford, NH)

Hey Ross, so the Hometown Hopfuls program is a way to get the Olympians' families out to Italy to see you guys compete?

Ross Powers

  (2:18 PM)

Hometown Hopefuls is Bank of America's program where they team up with the athletes' family for ways to get over to Italy and watch us compete. That way, us athletes only have to worry competing and we know that our families are all taken care of.

Steve Dallas, TX

Ross, what got you first inspired in snowboarding?

Ross Powers

  (2:19 PM)

I started snowboarding when I was seven years old on Christmas day at Bromley Mountain -- where my mom worked.

Aaron (BC)

How much free riding do you do and what are your top three places to ride?

Ross Powers

  (2:20 PM)

I don't get to free ride as much as I like to because I've been focussing on competing right now, but I get out there quite a bit, and I look forward to getting out there in the future more and more.

Ross Powers

  (2:21 PM)

Stratton Mountain is my home mountain, I really like Mamoth in California ... and Whistler Blackcomb.

Zim, Georgia

Olympic snowboarding isn't near as popular as X-games, Vans Triple Crown, or other snowboarding events. Why do you think this is, and what changes need to take place in order to attract more viewers?

Ross Powers

  (2:22 PM)

Well, Zim, Olympic snowboarding is definitely, by far, the biggest event within snowboarders. I think that the XGames and other events like it have grown, and have pushed the Olympics and other competitions to include snowboarding.

Ian (Stowe)

Ross! Who are some other X athletes we will see competing in Torino?

Ross Powers

  (2:25 PM)

Umm. Hopefully I'll make it to Tornino ... and also people like Shaun White and Danny Kass ... pretty much any of the guys who might make the Olympic team would have competed in the sX Games snowboarding events. And in the boardercross side of things -- which is a new event -- you'll see Xers like Seth Wescott and Lindsey Jacobellis.

Kyle, Georgia

Hey, Ross. It's undeniable that the sport of snowboarding is growing in popularity every year, but what changes would you most like to see start occuring in the near future.

Ross Powers

  (2:27 PM)

I agree with you, Kyle. It's definitely grown a lot over the last few years. Hopefully, it will just stay on track, the events keep getting bigger and bigger and they bring more attention, but still, snowboarding has stayed true and has maintained it roots of just going out there and riding with your friends. I just hope to see that trend continue.

Brad (Gadsden,Alabama)

Ross,Whats the best thing about being a snowboarder?

Ross Powers

  (2:28 PM)

Brad, I'd say it's just doing something I love for a living and being able to travel the world and snowboard in all the cool places all over.

joe, leadville

ross, i grew up skiing in telluride, whats your favorite mountain in CO?

Ross Powers

  (2:28 PM)

Well, the mountain I've been to most in Colorado is Breckenridge, but my favorite one so far is probably Vail.

Mikey (Montpellier)

Ross! Who are your sponsors??

Ross Powers

  (2:30 PM)

Burton snowboards, Bolle eyewear, Stratton Mountain, The Collection, Bank of America and Kellogs.

Whit (Boston)

Ross, i'm 15, I just started snowboarding last season. Any tips? I'm still having a hard time getting off the chair lifT!

Ross Powers

  (2:32 PM)

Hey Whit. Just keep trying. Go with some friends that around your level or a little better and they will push you to get better. It's all about putting in the effort and the time.

James

Hey Ross, do you have an iPod? Do you like to ride with an mp3 player? what do you listen to on the trails?

Ross Powers

  (2:34 PM)

Yeah, I have an iPod. I usually don't use it in contest b/c they play music a lot of the times. When I go out cruisin' I use it. I like the Beastie Boys ... and all kinds of music, from fast stuff to hip-hop.

Matt (Stockbridge)

Ross, I hear there's some cool stuff in the Athlete Lounge at the XGames. Tell us about it. What's your favorite?

Ross Powers

  (2:35 PM)

The Athlete Lounge is cool. They've got all kinds of goodies food-wise. They also have the latest in video games and movies and stuff. There are some cool couches to and internet and phones.

Nate (Vermont)

Ross, what's your favorite thing to eat before an event?

Ross Powers

  (2:36 PM)

It depends on the day! I like all kinds of food from Mexican to Japanese.

George

Hey bro, what's the scariest spill you ever had? Good luck in Italy.

Ross Powers

  (2:38 PM)

I guess, when I was younger, I fell and broke and dislocated my wrist when I was probably in about eighth grade, I think.

Owen (Saratoga)

Ross, what do you have to do to make the Olympic team. What's the process like? Good luck man!

Ross Powers

  (2:39 PM)

This year there will be five grand prix events. They will take your best two results out of the five. It's going to be a challenge! Thanks.

Ross Powers

  (2:40 PM)

Thanks everybody for tuning in and being my fans out there. I'm looking forward to this winter. I'll give it my best shot. Have a great season, hopefully I'll see you out on the slopes!