2 New Disciplines Added To The Winter X Games 14

I remember being in 3rd grade and having the daily grind of an elementary school schedule just wear me down.  Everyday just seemed so dull and monotonous that it could drive any kid crazy, or maybe just us with A.D.H.D.  Even though the film had not come out yet, it felt like living in the movie GROUNDHOG DAY.  It felt that bad.  The mornings were particularly bad for me that I would often times have to make myself a cup of Joe.  I was more of a summer kid.  The time when you can do whatever you want with your friends while your parents were away.  That meant going swimming all day, start fires with your friends’ BARBIE DOLLS, and chase down the ice cream man.

But there were always two things that was thrown into the mix and break up the repetitiveness.  One event was a field trip.  It didn’t matter where you class went but just as long as it was out of the classroom.  I remember even taking a field trip to the dinosaurs where they shot PEE WEES BIG ADVENTURE and being completely miserable because it was so hot.  At least we were outside the class.  The other thing that broke up the monotony was having a new kid in class, which meant a new face to look at.  This one time a new girl named Cary Chou was added to my class.  It was always extra exciting if the new student was a girl.  As it turned out, Cary was a Chinese boy but it’s cool because him and I are still really good friends.

The ESPN Winter X Games decided to ad two new disciplines to this year’s long list of events.  Do you suspect that the two new sports will be as exciting as having a Cary Chou added to your 3rd grade class?  Well let’s see what they are.  The first is Skiing Superpipe High Air and Snowmobile Knock Out.  It seems to me that the names were given some extra tubular titles in order to boost the hype around the events.  I equate anything on skis as the same as rollerblades so the verdict is still out on that one.  Snowmobile Knock Out can be really cool.  It might be the equivalent to NASCAR but on snowmobiles.  Anyway read the press release after the jump and decide for yourself.

Winter X Games 14, to be held January 28-31, 2010 in Aspen/Snowmass, Colo., and aired live on ESPN and ESPN2, will feature new events, more than 40 past and present Olympians and 9 ½ hours of increased television coverage.  Two new disciplines will make their debut – Skiing SuperPipe High Air and Snowmobile Knock Out.  In addition to 24 ½ hours of live programming on ESPN, Winter X Games 14 will be offered on ESPN International, XGames.com, ESPN360.com, SportsCenter and ESPN2’s X Center.

Skiing SuperPipe High Air will feature the top six skiers in the world competing in a 30-minute jam format for highest air.  Snowmobile Knock Out will feature six athletes competing in a single elimination format.  The athlete score is based on the actual distance travelled from take off ramp to landing. Each round, the rider who travels the least distance gets knocked out of competition. Snowmobile champion, Levi LaVallee, is confirmed to compete in the debut of Snowmobile Knock Out.

“I’m really excited about the new event,” said LaVallee, who made an even bigger name for himself last year at Winter X Games when he attempted a double backflip. “It gives snocross a similar event to Moto Step Up, which is always a crowd favorite.  With my snocross and freestyle background, I’m hoping to be one of the front runners.”

For the complete, updated list of Winter X Games 14 athletes, log on to www.xgames.com.