SNOWMOBILE STARDOM LURES DIRT SPECIALISTS

Snowmobiling is not a year-round activity, and even the best riders with long backgrounds in the snow find other things to do in the warmer months. Many, such as 10-time SnoCross medalist Tucker Hibbert, race motocross. Some athletes in Snowmobile Best Trick and Freestyle actually launched their careers on the dirt first with motorcycles and ATVs. When the opportunity to double down and make a name at a place called Buttermilk Mountain opened up, several riders seized it. With a diverse set of skills, riders such as Daniel Bodin (bikes), and the Moore brothers (ATVs) have found their biggest success while moonlighting as snowmobile hucksters. More medals equal more notoriety and more notoriety means more shows, demonstrations and other paying gigs on sleds, bikes and quads.

2013 Winter X Games Snowmobile Wipeouts

The Winter X Games kicked off last night and the competition at Aspen has already resulted in some great action - and some pretty gnarly crashes, particularly in the Snowmobile Freestyle contest. If you didn't appreciate how ballsy these Snowmbile guys were before now, this collection of crashes will prove that flipping 200kgs worth of machine (about double the weight of a dirt bike) is far from easy. And you're really going to know about it should it land on your head if you fall off. Last night, three of the competitors - Texan brothers Caleb and Colton Moore and Swede Daniel Bodin - experienced some nasty accidents during the finals. Both Caleb Moore and Bodin suffered from the front skis digging into the snow while trying land, while Colton Moore over-rotated and looks like he injured his hip but we are awaiting further details. Their mistakes helped contribute to American Levi LaVaelle walking away with the X Games Gold medal.