EXPN.com had the chance to sit down with three members of the U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe team and pick their brain about the Winter X Games, hitting the pipe for their country and more. Check out what the gang had to say.

Tricia Byrnes

Is there more hype surrounding the Olympics than Winter X?
The Olympics are the Olympics you know. I'm really excited about it. It's going to be so much fun. There is so much hype for both the Olympics and the X Games and both are so much fun.

What's next after Winter X Games VI?
We are going to go to Salt Lake and just start training right away. I'm really excited. It is such a great honor to represent the United States in snowboarding at the biggest sporting event in the world.

How hard have you been preparing?
This is my last contest. We've been on such contest overload that I am just excited for this to be over so we can take a couple days off and then really get back into it. We have all been competing like twice a week forever. We are all running on fumes.

Tricia Byrnes with a Salt Lake worthy backside air.

What is the difference between Winter X qualifying and Olympic qualifying?
The qualifying process is such an ordeal. You're competing and every run counts it seems, for three months. Here, it's just three runs, who cares! Go for it! You have a good time, see all the bands and go out. Coming to the Winter X Games, it was so much fun because it was less pressure. But time off is required!"

Does the Olympics mean more to you since it is on U.S. soil?
It does mean more with that fact that it is in the U.S. More people will be interested and know about it. There is just something really great about competing with the hometown pride. It will be amazing. So many of my friends and family are going so they are so stoked.

Are you nervous about competing in the Olympics?
I'm just going to try and enjoy the whole experience. It's just another day in your life and you want to go out and make the most of it. That's the attitude you have to take going into it. I'm not going to get myself freaked out about it. I'm just going to enjoy it win, lose or whatever.

Kelly Clark

So how will you spend the next three weeks?
Ahhh! I get to go home! I haven't been home since before Christmas. It will be nice to go and relax for a little bit and then we have a pre-Olympic training camp for three days. That will be nice to just hang in Park City and ride there for the first time.

Are you more stoked since the Olympics are in the U.S.?
Definitely with all the stuff that is going on in the world and everything that has gone down here I think it will be really good to represent the U.S. in the U.S. It will give people maybe some hope and something to look forward to for a change.

Kelly boosting with the Axis Cam looming in the background.

Are you going to bust out anything new in Park City?
I'm going to try to do some more tricks but we will see what happens.

Weren't you worried you might get injured at Winter X?
No. If I was at home I would be trying the same stuff right now.

Is there a lot of pressure involved with competing in the Olympics?
I try not to get too stressed about competing. I'm having fun here and I will have fun there.

Tommy Czeschin

Are you going to spend your time before the Olympics training or having fun?
I'm going to do a little bit of both. I'll train a lot. Hopefully we will have a good pipe in Mammoth and then I'll take some days off so I don't get burnt out before the games.

What is your take on Olympics qualifying vs. Winter X Games qualifying?
Qualifying for the Olympics was definitely way too hectic. It's amazing how it worked out because all the guys who got the quota spots last year are also on the men's team this year. That's pretty cool how it worked out. But qualifying for the X Games is pretty hard to do. You have to be one of the top riders. But if you have a good year then you are going to go to the X Games and if you do well there, then you can go again the next year.

Tommy throwin down in the pipe.

Which event means more to you, Olympics or Winter X?
Definitely the Olympics. It's a huge contest and it's only once every four years. Winter X Games is every year and it's huge to win a medal here but I would definitely say the Olympics. It's great for snowboarding to get so much exposure.

How excited are you to be on the team?
I think it's going to be really really fun and I think it's an honor just to be able to go to the games. I think it is going to be really cool.

Would you have worked this hard to qualify if the Olympics weren't in the U.S?
I still would have put all the effort into it. It just makes it a bonus being in the U.S.

Weren't you worried about getting injured in Aspen?
Not at all. Most of the best riders were here and it was kind of a pre-practice for what it's going to be like at the Olympics. All the good riders were here so it was good to be here.

Are you going to hit the party scene in Utah?
I don't know if I will be drinking any alcohol in Utah. It's not a state that's really too friendly for that.

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