With another snowboarding victory, Shaun White books his ticket to Vancouver

Shaun White earns another chance at Olympic gold

MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. — Defending Olympic halfpipe champion Shaun White has qualified for the 2010 Games with a victory in the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix.

White won Saturday’s event for his second victory of the season, wrapping up a spot on the U.S. team.

Gretchen Bleiler, the silver medalist in 2006, won the women’s event. She has two second-place finishes and is a good bet to make the team, along with 2002 gold medalist Kelly Clark, who already has two victories this season.

White was followed by Louie Vito, who also has a pair of second-place finishes.

This was the third of five qualifying events for the U.S. halfpipe team. The final two are later this month in Park City, Utah.