INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev.— While most of the Sierra Nevada College snowboard team competes in the United States Collegiate Skiing and Snowboarding Association race this weekend at Sugar Bowl, Spencer Cordovano and Austen Butler will head over to the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix at Boreal Mountain.

The two qualified for the Grand Prix alongside the likes of X-Games Gold Medalist Nate Holland and X-Games athlete Elijah Teter.

Cordovano, a junior, qualified for the boardercross event, a competition coach Jeff Corrado said is difficult. It’s an event where four snowboarders start at the same time and pick their way through a course littered with jumps and obstacles, often turning into a contact sport when they run into one another.

“It takes a strong rider,” Corrado said. “You’ve got to be super aggressive and going against Holland and those guys, (Cordovano has) got his work cut out for him.”

Butler, a sophomore, is competing in the halfpipe competition.

Corrado said the rest of the team will race on the other side of Interstate 80 at Sugar Bowl. There they’ll compete along with the SNC ski team in a USCSSA race.

Cordovano said he expects senior and team leader Seth Gunsauls to perform well at the race, which includes a slopestyle competition.

“Seth is a natural leader, being the only senior he’s really stepped up this season,” Corrado said.

He also praised freshman Tucker Norred and expects him to do well this weekend.

“Tucker is an amazing athlete and I’m really excited to see what he pulls this weekend,” Corrado said. “He’s got a great attitude.”