By Marty Basch

Jonathan Cheever's got a crystal globe in his sights.

The Saugus, Mass. snowboarder who moonlights as a plumber in summer is currently second in the World Cup snowboardcross standings, sandwiched between leader Alex Pullin of Austria and France's Pierre Vaultier.

"This year it's just a little different for me," he said from his winter base of Park City, Utah. "My head is screwed on tighter, I've been riding strong all year and now I'm on the podium."

Cheever has had a banner month besting a deep field to win the U.S. snowboardcross title at Park City and collecting the ceremonial forest green dinner jacket. He followed with a second place finish at a World Cup race in Stoneham, Quebec, a resort about six hours north of Boston where he often does well with his parents looking on.

"I don't know what it is about the place," the U.S. Snowboard Team rider said. "I guess it's my type of course."

He's had a couple of top 10 World Cup results, placed eighth at the Worlds in January and was fifth at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo.

The 25-year-old is a bit banged up from competitions with a bruised foot, sprained ankle and slight whiplash, so he's resting up before making a European sojourn to Italy and Switzerland next month for the World Cup's last leg.

"I think every venue has a different style," said Cheever. "I like the longer courses. I think that is the progression of the sport...longer, faster, bigger."