Redemption

Hoyer Wins His First Winter X Games Gold

Aspen, Colo. - After winning the silver medal in last year's Snowmobile Freestyle competition, Justin Hoyer said that while he was happy, he would have liked to have done better.

Consider his gold medal in this year's Snowmobile Freestyle, mission accomplished.

"It has been a dream of mine for a long time to win the X Games," Hoyer said. "This is it for our sport, and to win feels awesome."

Hoyer's winning run included a Superman flip, backflip no-hander to a backflip heel-clicker and a kiss-of- death giving him an 88.33 to 87.00 advantage over last year's gold medalist Joe Parsons.

"I knew I needed to pull the Parsby out to get on the podium and I am happy where I am," Parson said.  "It feels good, I just wanted to come out and have fun."

Texas native Caleb Moore, who just one month ago transferred his ATV skills to the snowmobile, clinched the bronze.

"Definitely crazy - I don't know what to say," Moore said of his bronze medal performance.  "After just one-month of practice, it is an honor to be on the stand.

"I can't thank everyone enough, especially my family, Rockstar, Polaris and my girlfriend for all her support.  She even massaged my stinky feet before this event."

Snowmobile Freestyle featured 12 riders on 500-pound snowmobiles taking individual runs and testing their skills on jumps more than 100-feet long. Judging was based on overall impression, trick execution, volume of tricks, use of course, landings and style.

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 - http://www.youtube.com/xgames and follow the X Games on Twitter at Twitter.com/espnxgames

WINTER X GAMES 14

The 14th annual winter action sports competition will feature more than 250 men and women from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in the following sports: Skiing, Snowboard and Snowmobile. The event includes day and evening competitions and is free to the public. This will be the ninth consecutive Winter X Games that Buttermilk Mountain at Aspen/Snowmass has hosted.

ESPN and ESPN2 will televise 24 ½ hours of LIVE high-definition programming Jan. 28-Jan 31. ESPN2 will present daily late-night highlight programs in HD from Jan. 28-Jan. 31, resulting in eight additional hours of HD programming for Winter X Games 14. Additionally, the Winter X Games will also be televised on ESPN's International networks to 172 countries and territories in Latin America, the Pacific Rim, Middle East, Africa, Israel and Canada.