THE FUTURE OF THE CANADIAN SNOWBOARD FEDERATION STILL CLOUDY

          Canadian Snowboard Federation (CSF) Exec Dir Michael
     Wood said that he "expected an increase in corporate
     sponsorships" following Ross Rebagliati's Gold medal at the
     '98 Winter Olympics, but so far, the CSF "has suffered
     financially as a result of those hazy days of Nagano,"
     according to Steve Buffery of the TORONTO SUN.  Wood said he
     believes that Rebagliati testing positive for marijuana at
     the Games conveyed the image of snowboarding as "a pastime
     for partiers," and has left the corporate sector "hesitant
     to jump on the bandwagon."  Wood: "At first, people said,
     'Yes, we're excited about snowboarding.'  But now they're
     saying, 'We're going to let the pot issue blow over for the
     next few years.'"  Wood said that he may have to ask
     snowboarders such as Rebagliati, who have personal sponsors,
     "to fund their own way to meets" (TORONTO SUN, 9/16).