SNOWBOARD

MEN’S HALFPIPE

* Where: Bardonecchia.

* When: Feb. 12.

* Best of the U.S.: Shaun White qualified by winning the first two U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix events, then won the final three and the recent Winter X Games. Mason Aguirre finished second at the X Games. Danny Kass, a silver medalist in 2002, brings Olympic experience.

* Best of the rest: Antti Autti of Finland joined the sport’s upper echelon by defeating Kass and White at the 2005 X Games. He also won the 2005 world championships. Finland’s Risto Matilla is also a podium candidate.

* U.S. chances to medal: White’s qualifying and X Games runs have been gold-medal caliber. A repeat medals sweep, as in 2002, is not out of the question.

* Little-known facts: White also is a top-flight pro skateboarder who won silver in the Summer X Games and a budding guitarist who patterns his playing after Led Zeppelin star Jimmy Page.

WOMEN’S HALFPIPE

* Where: Bardonecchia.

* When: Feb. 13.

* Best of the U.S.: Gretchen Bleiler barely missed making the team in 2002 and has dominated qualifying sessions this winter. Hannah Teter, 19, has extensive top-level experience despite her age. Kelly Clark, Olympic gold medalist in 2002, needed a second-place finish in the final qualifier to make the team. She has also won gold in the X Games.

* Best of the rest: Torah Bright of Australia, a winner at last winter’s Arctic Challenge, was second to Clark in this year’s X Games final.

* U.S. chances to medal: With Elena Hight also a strong podium candidate, the team should win at least two medals.

* Little-known fact: Hight, 16, called “Nugget” because of her diminutive stature (5 feet 1), reportedly was the first female to land a 900-degree spin in competition -- when she was 13.

MEN’S PARALLEL

GIANT SLALOM

* Where: Bardonecchia.

* When: Feb. 22.

* Best of the U.S.: Tyler Jewell is the lone entry, having qualified ahead of 2002 bronze medalist Chris Klug, who argued unsuccessfully that he deserved to be picked ahead of Jewell.

* Best of the rest: Swiss rider Philipp Schoch is the defending Olympic champion and 2004-05 World Cup titleholder. Canada’s Jasey-Jay Anderson is the reigning world champion.

* U.S. chances to medal: Not good. Jewell did not meet the qualifying criteria (top four of a World Cup event) for automatic inclusion and was chosen ahead of Klug based on international points.

* Little-known fact: Schoch could become the first person to win two Olympic snowboarding gold medals.

WOMEN’S PARALLEL

GIANT SLALOM

* Where: Bardonecchia.

* When: Feb. 23.

* Best of the U.S.: Michelle Gorgone had two seconds and four top-five World Cup finishes last season. Rosey Fletcher, a silver medalist at the 1999 and 2001 world championships, had a second and a third.

* Best of the rest: Daniela Meuli of Switzerland, 20th at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, won the 2004-05 World Cup title. Austria’s Manuela Riegler is the world champion, and countrywoman Doresia Krings was third in the world championships.

* U.S. chances to medal: It would not be surprising for Gorgone or Fletcher to end up on the podium, but a gold medal is unlikely.

* Little-known fact: Gorgone, who is of Italian heritage and is nicknamed “Pirelli,” aspires to earn a spot on “American Idol” and become the next Kelly Clarkson.

MEN’S CROSS

* Where: Bardonecchia.

* When: Feb. 16.

* Best of the U.S.: Seth Wescott is the world champion, but Nate Holland was the first to qualify and defeated teammates Jayson Hayle (third) and Wescott (fourth) at the X Games, finishing just ahead of Switzerland’s Marco Huser.

* Best of the rest: French rider Xavier de le Rue is perhaps the world’s best but is recovering from a foot injury that may keep him from competing. Canada’s Anderson, Austria’s Marion Fuchs, Italy’s Alberto Schiavon and Huser are strong candidates.

* U.S. chances to medal: Outstanding. All four U.S. riders -- Jason Smith being the fourth -- are capable of making the podium.

* Little-known fact: Wescott’s father, Jim, was track and field coach at North Carolina State and worked with Joan Benoit, who won the inaugural women’s marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

WOMEN’S CROSS

* Where: Bardonecchia.

* When: Feb. 17.

* Best of the U.S.: Lindsey Jacobellis, the 2005 world champion and three-time X Games champion, is a dominant force and the lone entry in this downhill blitz.

* Best of the rest: France’s Karine Ruby was the runner-up to Jacobellis at the 2005 World Championships and won the silver medal in the parallel giant slalom at Salt Lake City.

* U.S. chances to medal: Jacobellis is favored to win the gold.

* Little-known fact: Jacobellis, who enjoys surfing in the off-season, collects shoes.

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-- Pete Thomas