For the first time ever, Special Olympics World Winter Games athletes received medals for snowboarding Wednesday. A crowd of family members, volunteers and coaches gave mighty cheers as athletes pumped their arms and celebrated at Hilltop Ski Area.

The sport was added to Special Olympics after the last World Games in Toronto, and two dozen athletes from three countries boarded their way to the medal stand under Wednesday's blue skies. Athletes competed on novice, intermediate or advanced courses, and were divided into groups based on their abilities.

Chris Vance, a 29-year-old Anchorage snowboarder, accepted his bronze medal from Patti McGuire, 2001 Special Olympics board chairman. Vance removed his helmet, covered by a good luck charm -- a cloth shark fin that he wears when competing.

After McGuire placed the medal around his neck, he strapped on his helmet and pumped both fists in the air. Earlier, following one of two trips down the giant slalom course, he jumped up and down at the finish line, happy with his time.

"I've been training a lot," he said.

The course, which weaved down Hilltop's Timberwolf and Caribou runs, was a little slow from a few inches of morning snow, athletes said. Most boarded cautiously on their first run, then let it rip on their second.

"I'm ready to rock and roll, baby," shouted U.S. athlete Nicholas Habicht from the finish area following his first trip down the course.

Habicht, from Sheffield, Mass., later received a gold medal. His parents, Annette and Peter, recorded the event with a video camera. Annette Habicht wore a moose slipper on a recently broken leg. "USA ... Go Nick," was written in the moose's eyes.

Anchorage snowboarder Bryan Carey shaved several seconds off his time during his second run on Wednesday. He crouched down on his board and clasped his hands behind his back as he approached the finish line.

"Tuck it, baby," someone yelled from the crowd.

"You're the main man," yelled Carey's brother, Mac Carey. "You're the top dog."

Several members of Carey's family congratulated him after his race. He kneeled down and gave two little girls -- his cousin and niece -- hugs and kisses before Special Olympics media staff pulled him away for an interview.

Carey later received a silver medal.

The only female snowboarder, the United States' Melissa Rowe, 25, won silver in her division. One of four snowboarders from New Mexico, she stood on the awards podium wearing a baseball cap with an Alaska flag on it.

"I wish it was gold," Rowe said of her medal later. "But I did my best and I'm really happy."

USA snowboarder Garett Pearson, from West Point, Mass., barely beat her for the gold. Pearson's parents watched from the crowd. It was the 16-year-old's dream to come to Alaska, they said.

Six athletes competed in two advanced divisions. Following his second run, New Mexico boarder Van Pexa cheered on Bill Switala from Vail, Colo. Switala zoomed down the course and finished several seconds faster than any other advanced snowboarder.

Bronze medalist Pexa and gold medalist Switala later celebrated and hugged on the awards podium.

"Good job, Bill. I love you, Bill," Pexa said.

After the first day of medals at the snowboard venue, some athletes said they felt relaxed and happy.

"I was really nervous," said Mike Kuyper, a New Mexico snowboarder and gold medalist. "My supervisor ... who helped me said, 'Just take deep breaths and just go down the mountain.'

"And that's what I did."

Reporter Molly Brown can be reached at mbrown@adn.com or 257-4343.