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The Podium: How 'the grab' can make or break a gold medal run

Posted at 2:04 AM, Feb 14, 2022
and last updated 2022-02-14 07:35:46-05

“The grab” is an important nuance of snowboarding or skiing. Successful grabs can make the difference on a podium, and slip-ups can prove costly. 

In freestyle skiing events, a grab can increase the difficulty of a trick. In snowboard cross, it can make athletes more aerodynamic. 

Day 9’s episode of The Podium starts with three American freeskiers – Nick Goepper, Mac Forehand and Colby Stevenson – who describe the levels of complication and variation when it comes to different kinds of tricks. They also talk about what happens if they miss a grab and share instances when grabbing sharp skis lead to cut hands.

Then, Lindsey Jacobellis and Nick Baumgartner – fresh off an exhilarating gold medal in mixed snowboard cross – join the podcast to discuss the effect of grabs in snowboarding. Jacobellis reflects on the pivotal mistake she made while attempting a grab near the finish line at the 2006 Winter Olympics, costing her the gold medal.