Just as they have all season, the Sierra Nevada College ski and snowboard teams placed first yet again.This time it was at the United States Collegiate Skiing Association's Great West regional meet at Mammoth Mountain, Calif.

Both teams took first on a shortened race schedule last weekend, as Sunday's action was canceled because of a snow storm.

The women's ski team led off the action Saturday in the giant slalom. It captured first through fourth place, and five of the top six positions.

The Eagles' four Swedes - Jessica Bouleau (1 minute, 3.76 seconds), Martina Hulten (1:03.80), Caroline Bergstrom (1:03.90) and Malin Ericsson (1:04.41) - placed first through fourth, respectively. Freshman Laura Hoff followed closely in sixth place with a 1:05.49. The team finished first overall in the event, catapulting it to the USCSA Nationals starting Wednesday, Mar. 5 at Sunday River, Maine.

"Everyone skied to expectations," said SNC coach Branko Zagar. "I told them going in that they needed to ski smart, we couldn't have any mistakes and risk not going to nationals. We've been peaking the whole year and I think that right now the kids are skiing their best."

The women will be joined by the SNC men in Maine, as they placed first through fifth on their way to a first-place finish. Freshmen Kevin Sheehan (1:01.55), Matyas Mleziva (1:01.68) and Jonathan Cherry (1:01.94), senior Geoffery Goodman (1:03.07) and freshman Gunnar Gottschalk (1:03.36) paced the Eagles.

In snowboarder GS, both the SNC men's and women's teams matched their skiing counterparts by taking first place.

Sophomore Spencer Cordovano started the race on a high note, recording a first-place finish with a combined time of 1:20.50. The men's team had three other racers finish in the top 10, with sophomore Lance Lynch in sixth place (1:30.85), Seth Gunsauls in eighth (1:31.65) and Tarjei Sporastoyl in ninth place (1:33.87).

On the women's side freshman Nora Johannessen took second place overall with a time of 1:44.15. Fellow Frosh Maya Hoffman grabbed sixth place with a 1:50.10.

"Conditions were tough but the team got some great competition and stepped up," said SNC snowboard coach Tony Carlstrom. He said soft snow and lots of falling snow made it difficult to ride.

From here both teams take different paths to Maine. The snowboard teams leaves today for Sno Mountain in Western Pennsylvania. There they will race in the Chevrolet Revolution Tour Friday through Sunday.

"It'll be good; they will get a chance to ride on East Coast conditions. The mountain is pretty small, and mostly a park, but the kids will get a good feel for the conditions," Carlstrom said. From there, the snowboarders will head to Sunday River, where they will race from Wednesday, Feb. 5 through Saturday, Feb. 8 at the nationals.

The ski team also will head East early to train on right coast conditions. The team leaves Thursday morning for Mt. Stowe, Vt., to train through the weekend before getting to Sunday River.

"With all these storms, it's like we haven't skied on firm snow all year," Zagar said. "I think they'll be able to adjust to icy, firm snow pretty well since a couple of them are from the East Coast."