VEYSONNAZ, Switzerland — Older proved faster for Sandpoint native Nate Holland as he dominated the men’s snowboardcross World Cup final on Saturday in Veysonnaz, Switzerland.

Holland, who turns 40 this year, was the elder statesman in the 63-man snowboardcross field that gathered above 2026 Olympic candidate city Sion. The three-time Olympian flew by the younger generation of competitors, winning each of his heats on the course before cruising to victory in the big final.

“Some say I’m too old,” Holland remarked as he attempted to make, but missed out on, his fourth Olympic team last year. “I say B.S.”

On Saturday, he continued to prove it. Holland defeated the new guard of Olympic boardercross stars. Mick Dierdorff, fifth in snowboardcross at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, crossed the finish line behind Holland to give the Americans the top two spots on the podium. Spain’s Lucas Eguibar was third.

Holland’s win marked his first world cup victory since the Olympic test event in February 2016 in Korea. This was Holland’s 7th Gold in his overall World Cup career of 15 years. He holds the record among USA athletes for most career podiums with seven gold, seven silver and five bronze. He’s especially fond of Switzerland’s big courses, where he’s posted three of his seven World Cup career wins.

The Swiss built a big and fast course that raced six riders per heat, like in the Olympics and past X-games, which favor a rider like Holland who is masterful at drafting and gliding.

At the qualifier on Friday, Holland posted the No. 1 time, giving him the best gate selection throughout the heats.

“Typical for Nate, he immediately raced for inside lines to strategically pick off his opponents,” described mom Rebecca Holland, who watched the action on her computer. “He crossed the finish first in every heat. In Nate’s words, he ‘dropped the hammer.’”

The Swiss always present the World Cup winners with a large disc of swiss cheese, the second such prize for Holland after winning in Veysonnaz six years ago in a similar dramatic final.

Meanwhile, Dierdorff’s result was the best of his career; his only other World Cup podium was a third place at the start of this season.

Olympic snowboardcross champion Pierre Vaultier of France won his first race in Veysonnaz, then finished fifth in his quarterfinal race and ended 17th overall. Three-time U.S. Olympian Nick Baumgartner, who finished just off the podium in the event in PyeongChang, also finished first in his first race, but fell to fourth in his quarterfinal heat for 14th overall.

Other Team USA finishes included Jake Vedder in 22nd, and 2018 Olympians Hagen Kearney in 33rd and Jonathan Cheever in 34th.