Winter Olympics: Mich. Snowboarder Makes Final In Cross

Nick Baumgartner of Iron River qualified for the final run in the men's snowboard event, but washed out and finished fourth. Pierre Vaultier of France defended his title he won in the 2014 Sochi Games.

Vaultier barely qualified for the final round in PyeongChang after crashing during the semifinals, but recovered to win his second Olympic gold medal. Australia's Jarryd Hughes won silver and Spain's Regino Hernandez got bronze.

Another American, Mick Diedrorff, of Steamboat Springs, also made it to the final run, but finished fifth, behind Baumgartner.

Snowboard cross is part race, part matter of survival as riders battle inches apart down a series of bumps, jumps and dips, according to the Associated Press. Riders are seeded based on time in qualifying, but after that, anything goes. All that matters is finishing in the top half of your race to advance through the elimination rounds.

Photo: Pierre Vaultier of France (red) leads the pack during the Men's Snowboard Cross Big Final on day six of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Phoenix Snow Park on February 15, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)