Tommy Czeschin spends a lot of time in the spin cycle.
When Czeschin, one of the top U.S. snowboarders, isn't pulling clean 1080s (three complete spins) in the halfpipe, he's tinkering with washing machines and dryers at the family laundromat in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. Though his parents sold the business this past year, he's looking at getting into it again.
"It's pretty cool. I like doing it. If you know how to fix machines and stuff, which is usually pretty easy, it runs itself," he said.
Czeschin, nicknamed "The Machine," (a contest announcer gave it to him and it stuck) will have to be humming on all cylinders for a chance to win the men's Olympic halfpipe contest Monday at Park City Mountain Resort.
As will Ross Powers, Danny Kass and J.J. Thomas, the hottest American men's rider coming into the Winter Games.
"The four guys that are up here, we all have a good chance at medaling," said Ross Powers, who took home bronze in Nagano. "It would be awesome if we swept it, but there's a lot of good competition out there."
The U.S. team will face a strong field of international riders, including all three medalists from the 1998 Games.
Last year's winner Gian Simmen of Switzerland says that's in the past.
"Don't look back. The contest is on the 11th of February. Everyone is even and that day matters," he said. "All you have to focus on is your body, your board and the halfpipe. And then you have to do your run. There's no cameras, no photographers. No press."
Nagano silver medalist Daniel Franck of Norway; Finland's Heikki Sorsa, who won the World Cup at Park City last year; and Swedes Magnus Sterner and Stefan Karlsson all figure to make a run at the gold.
Czeschin has a pretty good idea of what it will take.
"You're going to have to have a good, all-around solid run. You're going to have to do big airs. You're going to have to do big tricks. You're going to have to look good doing it and be smooth."
Like a well-oiled machine.
E-mail: romboy@desnews.com