Launchin' Levi LaVallee Wins Snowmobile Freestyle Final At Winter X 12
Jan 28 2008 / Aspen, COHard as it is to believe, it was only a few weeks ago – December 15th, 2007, to be exact – that Levi LaVallee entered his first ever snowmobile freestyle competition.
Guess what? He won.
In just a few whirlwind weeks, LaVallee – previously known as a champion SnoCross racer, not a trickster – has turned himself into a world-class freestyle sled rider. Tonight, he bested nasty conditions and a tough challenge from Winter X Games rookie Joe Parsons to win the Snowmobile Freestyle Final event, held here on the final night of Winter X Games 12.
“I got a ramp, started throwing tricks, and it started going good,” LaVallee said. “All of a sudden I’m up here winning a gold – that’s like a fairy tale, man! It’s not even real!”
Tonight’s win marks LaVallee’s second gold medal at Winter X Games 12. He also triumphed at the Speed & Style race on Thursday night.
LaVallee was able to start his third pass around the course, and busted out 10 total tricks compared to Parsons’ eight. LaVallee’s final run included three variations on the seat grab, a look-back double can-can, and a beauty of a back flip.
“The last back flip I did was probably the smoothest one I’ve done in a month,” LaVallee said. “And [the final] was definitely my best run all weekend.”
LaVallee joins X Games legend Shaun Palmer as the only other X Games athlete to medal in four separate disciplines. In LaVallee’s case those are the now-defunct Hillcross (gold, Winter X 2004); SnoCross (silver, Winter X 2006); and this year’s winning performances in both the Snowmobile Freestyle and Speed & Style events.
SNOWMOBILE FREESTYLE FINAL
Results from Aspen/Snowmass on Sunday, January 27, 2008
Name / Bib # / Hometown / Score
1. Levi LaVallee / 108 / Longville, Minn. / 87.66
2. Joe Parsons / 700 / Yakima, Wash. / 87.33
3. Heath Frisby / 270 / Caldwell, Idaho / 84.00
4. Daniel Bodin / 900 / Malung, Sweden / 65.00
SNOWMOBILE FREESTYLE ELIMINATION
Results from Aspen/Snowmass on Sunday, January 27, 2008 (Top 4 advance)
Name / Bib No. / Hometown / Score
1. Joe Parsons / 700 / Yakima, Wash. / 85.33
2. Daniel Bodin / 900 / Malung, Sweden / 85.00
3. Levi LaVallee / 108 / Longville, Minn. / 79.66
4. Heath Frisby / 270 / Caldwell, Idaho / 71.00
5. Jimmy Fejes / 903 / Anchorage, Alaska / 65.33
6. Sam Rogers / 922 / Billings, Mont. / 63.66
7. Dane Ferguson / 901 / Anchorage, Alaska / 58.00
8. Paul Thacker / 11 / Anchorage, Alaska / 54.66
9. Chris Burandt / 211 / Kremmling, Colo. / 49.33 /
10. Justin Hoyer / 904 / Ellsworth, Wis. / 47.00
-Press Release
