January 29, 2011

 

Extra Motivation

Baumgartner Wins First Winter X Games Medal in Snowboarder X

Aspen, Colo. – Six-year old Landon had never seen his dad, Nick Baumgartner, race in a competition.

But on Saturday afternoon at Winter X Games 15, he not only saw his dad race, he saw him win his first ever Winter X Games medal in the Snowboarder X Men’s Final.

“Knowing that my boy was at the bottom was so phenomenal,” Baumgartner said as he held Landon in celebration of his victory. “It got me down here every time just coming around the corner knowing that he would be watching. To win is unreal. I am so happy to do this in front of my boy.”

But, Baumgartner wasn’t the only first time medalist. Silver medalist Kevin Hill took the podium for the first time as well.

“I was gunning for the podium and I made it.  This is the best race of my career thus far,” a jubilant Hill said.

Nate Holland, who was attempting to achieve the first ever Winter X Games six-peat in the event took the bronze.

“It is kind of bittersweet, but I can’t complain.” Holland said.  “I had an amazing streak there – five-in-a-row – and I am on the podium today. I gave it my all and that is all I can ask of myself.”

Snowboarder X consists of a downhill course more than 3,500 feet long, filled with tabletop jumps, banked turns, rollers and gaps.  A fusion of motocross and downhill racing, Snowboarder X represents the versatility of snowboarding athletes today.

For Winter X Games media information, including press releases, logos and additional images from past events, log on to www.espneventmedia.com. To view medalist runs, visit the Winter X Games You Tube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/xgames and follow the X Games on Twitter at Twitter.com/xgames

 

WINTER X GAMES 15

Winter X Games will celebrate its 15^th anniversary in Aspen/Snowmass, Colo. January 27-30, 2011, with live coverage on ESPN and ESPN2. This will mark the 10^th consecutive year Winter X Games will be held in Aspen and will feature new events, more than 200 athletes and primetime coverage on ESPN on Sun., Jan.30. In addition to 24 hours of live programming on ESPN, Winter X Games 15 will be offered for the first time on ESPN 3D, as well as on ESPN International, XGames.com, ESPN360.com, SportsCenter and ESPN2’s X Center.

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Contacts:    Alex Rozis (Broadcast media), 415-609-0749, [email protected]

Danny Chi, (Print Media), 310-491-6131, [email protected]

Crystal Yang (Radio Media), 310-491-6735, [email protected]

Grace Coryell, 310-956-5098, [email protected]