SNOWBOARDERS LEARN LESSON OF REBAGLIATI

Pot Cloud Blown Away

TORONTO -- Natasza Zurek may be an Olympic-bound Canadian snowboarder, but
contrary to the hazy image lingering over her sport, she has never inhaled
a puff of marijuana.

And speaking inside one of Toronto's ritzy, high-rolling retail areas
yesterday, the 23-year-old Vancouver resident said she plans to weed out
and strenuously avoid those who do enjoy the illegal drug leading up to
next month's Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

"It's important to stay away," she said shortly after Canada's Olympic
snowboarding team was unveiled. "You never know."

Zurek, the only female rider on this nine-member national team and a strong
medal prospect, learned that lesson at the Winter Games in Nagano nearly
four years ago when fellow Canadian 'boarder Ross Rebagliati was
temporarily stripped of his gold medal after traces of marijuana were found
in his urine.

While Rebagliati's exploits reportedly led to several endorsement deals and
even a guest spot on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, they also clouded the
public perception of an entire sport.

Many on this year's team, which also includes 2001 World Cup champion Jasey
Jay Anderson, Vancouver's Ryan Wedding, Calgary's Mike Michalchuk and
Quebec City's Guillaume Morisset, have spent time answering questions about
snowboarding's laid-back, rebellious image.

"It sort of pegged snowboarding as, you know, 'the guys just smoke a lot of
drugs,'" Canadian Snowboard Federation president Adam Faithfull said. "But
if you've ever been to Whistler, it's skiers and anyone who lives there
[who smoke pot]. I remember my first trip there, I rode a gondola up with
two skiers who were smoking a pipe on their way up the hill. I went,
'they're not snowboarders, but they're doing it.'"