Hot topics at Winter X

Skiing
By out-skiing one of the strongest fields in the history of Skier X last year, Shaun Palmer once again demonstrated why he is considered one of the best skiers of all time. In fact, some argue Palmer is the most accomplished winter athlete ever. This was perhaps proven last year when he claimed Skier X gold by pulling off an incredible mid-air recovery off the finish table.

Although she was forced to withdraw from competition last year due to injury, Charlotte Moats is always considered to be a threat in the Skier X competition. If she can remain healthy this could prove to be a break through season for the Ivy League, Biomedical Engineering major at Dartmouth College. Moats took second at the 1999 Canadian Freeskiing Challenge and won a gold Medal in the Junior Olympics in 1995.

Snowboarding
With nine X Games medals to her name, including a gold from the summer '99 big air contest, Barrett Christy has established herself as one of the top snowboarders around. Not only has she had success in Big Air, but Christy has consistently done well in both the Winter X Games Slopestyle and SuperPipe competitions as well.

In the past year Tara Dakides has won gold at the Winter X Games, the US Open, the Vans Triple Crown and the Grand Prix of Snowboarding. She locked up her first of two gold medals in last year's Games with a patented "grabbing back flip" over the showtime kicker. Then on the final day of the event, she picked up her fourth Winter X Games medal in two years by taking the gold in the big air competition.

With his all out attack on the pipe and a nearly indescribable mix of tricks, crowd favorite Ross Powers rarely disappoints. The Vermont native took the gold in the '98 slopestyle event and the silver medal in last year's contest. Back-to-back-to-back rodeo 900s, 720s, double grabbing airs-to-fakie, and the ability to stick some of the most difficult maneuvers possible helped Todd Richards strike gold at last year's SuperPipe contest.

Snowmobiling
Tucker Hibbert, the 16-year-old son of legendary snocross racer Kirk Hibbert, is laying tracks of his own throughout the snowmobiling community. Despite his age, he is anything but an amateur as proven by his success at last year's event. The victory propelled him to the top of the snowmobiling world as a legitimate threat and helped him to define himself as more than just the son of a champion.

Despite suffering several injuries last year, 1999 Winter X Games gold medal winner Chris Vincent still captured two WSA national finals and remains one of the premiere riders on the circuit to date. Vincent, a native of Vermont, is expected to do well on his home turf.

Moto X
Two-time summer X Games champion, Travis Pastrana, is always a threat. Considered to be the Tiger Woods of SnoCross, Travis leaves fans with their jaws dropped and mouths gaping as he performs mid-air acrobatics on nothing more than the seat of his bike.

2000 WFA World Champion Tommy Clowers won the step-up event in San Francisco this past summer and is the top ranked Vans Triple Crown rider. Whether it is using the brake or the throttle, or even putting the bike sideways, Clowers will do whatever it takes to win gold.

  Send this story to a friend