Alex Tuttle. (Rick Bisson photo) NAGANO, Japan -- Coplin Plantation, Carrabassett Valley Academy, the State of Maine and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association have all been watching local athlete Alex Tuttle as he's been on a success path in the sport of snowboardcross.

Tuttle has in the past dominated the USASA Maine Mountain Series and won his age division last year at Nationals as a member of the prestigious Pacsun Team. He qualified to compete with Olympic Gold Medalists and World Cup athletes at Grand Prix events and most recently competed with the best junior athletes in the world by competing at the 2009 FIS Junior World Cup Championship in Nagano, Japan.

"The team headed for Nagano is one of the strongest we have ever sent to a Junior Worlds event," U.S. Snowboarding Program Manager Abbi Nyberg said. "They have all worked very hard to qualify for this event. It is especially exciting to watch this group of young Olympic hopefuls compete at the same venue where snowboarding was introduced to the Olympics."

Over 300 of the top junior athletes competed in snowboarding events representing 25 nations. Tuttle is one of five U.S. team members.

Continuing with his series of successes, news just came through that Tuttle placed 4th at the 2009 Junior Worlds last week.

In the first heat Tuttle won the event along with Pacsun teammate Mick Dierdorff.

In the second heat Tuttle had a great pull at the start and led the pack through the finish line. Dierdorff again took second after a near mishap which spun him off track.

The U.S. had three representatives in the top eight, a historic feat that has never happened in the history of Junior Worlds.

Tuttle kept on winning and made it to the final heat of four. USA had all five riders in the top 32, three in the top eight and two in the final four.

According to a USASA news source, Tuttle finished fourth despite a major lunge at the finish which took him across the finish line head first.