X-Games Aspen 2004
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I had so much fun competing in the X-Games the past days. I loved racing boardercross, especially in my hometown. My goal was to have fun, learn a lot, and not get wrecked. I achieved that much. My only dissappointment was in the semifinal heat. I got out of the gate a little slow. I was riding fast and felt great on the course. I was confident I could advance to the finals and possibly find the podium, but didn’t manage to get out of the gate fast enough and it cost me. It was fun anyway and I’m stoked I did it! I was a little bitter about the semifinal start confusion, but it’s all good.The Ultracross was comedy. I got a bit of a slow handoff, but made the most of it and rallied back to second place before getting taken out and piling with two other riders in the turn just before the first ‘Aligator Pit’ gap jump. After our colision the three of us didn’t have enough speed to clear the gap, so we hiked up to it and surveyed the canyon. We all put our arms in the air as to say ‘What now’ when we realized that none of us wanted to jump into it. Then an official was yelling, ‘Go around it.’ I went around to the right and jumped back into the course. I proceeded to fight back to second place at the finish line and thought I advanced to next round, but was later found out I was disqualified for missing a gate. I guess after our wipeout I was so confused I went the wrong way. I thought I nailed it for our team, but we were done! It was kind of a dissappointing day of competition, but then agian it was my first X-Games and I had so much fun it’s hard to say that!With my top twelve finish I automatically qualified for next year’s games. I’m looking forward to improving in boardercross, so I can find the podium next year! Hopefully I can do a few more this season. The X-Games will be returning to Aspen the next three years. I’ll be back!
Some Moto X backflip action.
I did a book signing in the middle of the games with Sandra Tenudo for ‘America’s Athlete’s,’ a book I was a part of that celebrates American Athletes and Patriotism. Check it out at:www.americasathletes.com. The photography shot by Sandra is killer. She did a great job! I was honored to be a part of the book. You should have a look!
They were jumping everything at the X-Games including Snowmobiles. The backflipes on the snowmobiles didn’t look right. It was unreal!
The X-Games wrapped up tonight with a Bud Light sponosred Concert by Offspring in downtown Aspen. There were so many people in attendance. The mosh pit was all-time. Offspring was great live. It was seventeen degrees out, but no one seemed to care!I’m resting my sore body, from the boardercross and the mosh pit, and getting ready to travel to Banff on Thursday for the third King of the Mountian Race Sunday Jan. 31st at Sunshine Village, Banff, Canada. Have a look at www.jeepskiing.com for details and results. I’ll keep ya posted from up North. I spoke with our race organizer Ted, up there today and he informed me it was minus 62 degrees today at the top of the mountian. It was closed today because it was so cold. Sounds fun!
Our Ultracross team of Peter Lind and I. It was a strong team. I thought we were going to rule it, but we were unlucky when I got taken out and carnaged! We definitely won the heaviest team title. We outweighted Greenwood and Z. Crist by a couple hundred pounds. Talk to ya from Banff this weekend!CK