The ESPN Winter X Games kicks off today in Aspen, Colorado, and this year the event features five made-for-TV events.
The biggest and most historic snowmobiling event at Winter X 14 is, of course, snocross, featuring the best pro riders trying to chase down a gold medal on live national TV. Cat-riding Tucker Hibbert goes in as the odd-on favorite, after winning every pro final he entered last season and 7 of 8 so far this year on the ISOC national circuit. He’ll be going for his fifth gold medal, and fourth in a row.
Others to watch would include Polaris’ Ross Martin, who is tied for the lead in points on the national circuit; Cat’s Dan Ebert, who has several podiums this year and won the cross-country I-500 two weekends ago; Ski-Doo’s Tim Tremblay, the winner of Pro Open at the Utah stop – the only event Tucker didn’t win; Polaris’ Brett Bender, a rising star with incredible talent; and crowd favorite Levi Lavallee, also on a Polaris. Many other racers also have podium potential.
There’s snowmobile snocross practice on Saturday, January 30, but eliminations and the final are on Sunday, January 31. At 10:15 a.m. local (Mountain) time in Aspen. Look for the snocross final live on ESPN at 1 p.m. mountain (so 2 central, 3 eastern and noon pacific).
Here’s the list of invited athletes in snocross:
Paul Bauerly
Brett Bender
Justin Broberg (alternate)
Logan Christian (alternate)
Colby Crapo (alternate)
Cory Davis
Dan Ebert
Iain Hayden
Tucker Hibbert
Andrew Johnstad
Matt Judnick
Garth Kaufman
Levi Lavallee
Bobby LePage
Robbie Malinoski
Matthew Morin
Emil Ohman
Zach Pattyn
Matt Piche
Ryan Simons
Steve Taylor
Christian Salemark
Carl Schubitzke
Cody Thomsen (alternate)
Tim Tremblay
Brett Turcotte
Go back to the homepage for previews of other X Games disciplines.