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Shelley Osterloh ReportingThere is a new event making is Olympic debut in Torino-- the Snowboarder Cross. It is wild. Four guys all take off at the same time, flying over obstacles. First one across the line wins that heat and moves on to the next elimination round. And for one man whose family lives in Utah, it means he is suddenly in the Olympics.
Grahm Watanabe, US Snowboarder: "Yeah, it's been an interesting ride. It definitely isn't your standard Olympic experience. I've been wax-teching everybody's boards."
That's right, 23-year old Grahm Watanabe came to Italy as a wax tech. Now he is competing. He had tried to make the Olympic team, but missed out when he crashed during Olympic Trials. But he came along to Italy to support those who did make the team. And then when Jayson Hale tore up his knee during a practice run, Watanbe got the call -- he is in the Olympics.
Grahm Watanabe: "It's a little bitter-sweet, like I said. There's been a lot of sacrifices and real high sacrifices people have had to make; and I'm not here just for me, I'm here for a lot of people."
While his dream to compete is realized, another Olympic dream is over for KC Boutiette, a four time Olympian who had pinned his hopes for a medal on the Men's Team pursuit, but he fell behind in the final two laps.
KC Boutiette, U.S. Speedskater: "I've got to live with that."
For him it's a tearful ending to a long time quest for a medal. Still, he's a remarkable competitor.
