Longville, MN (January 28, 2014) – Professional snowmobiler and fan favorite, Levi LaVallee was golden in Snowmobile Long Jump at Winter X Games Aspen, on Saturday, January 25th. LaVallee, who currently holds the world record for longest distance jump on a snowmobile (412ft) is no rookie when it comes to hitting ramps and getting big air. In addition to his world record, LaVallee had taken gold in this event when it first debuted in 2010 (then called Knock Out). After a 4 year hiatus, Long Jump was back and LaVallee flew his Mystik Lubricants, Loctite, Polaris sled an impressive 147.5 feet which edged out fellow snowmobiler, Cory Davis for Gold. This marks LaVallee’s tenth Winter X Games medal, seven being gold.
Two weeks prior to Winter X Games, LaVallee made the announcement of his withdrawal from Snowmobile Freestyle and his replacement being freestyle rider Jack Rowe. With a stiff competition Rowe was able to complete his second X Games appearance with an impressive 4th place finish. Rowe’s freestyle runs where clean with big extensions and solid landings, Rowe just missed a medal position by 0.34 points.
On Sunday, the final day of Winter X Games 2014, Team LaVallee was thrilled to have all 4 snocross racers (LaVallee, Pallin, Scott, and Lieders) competing in snowmobile snocross. A total of 24 racers where competing for a chance to line up against the top 15 in the snocross final. To qualify, the top 5 riders were pulled from two heats of 12 riders. All four riders of Team LaVallee where in the same qualifying heat. Kyle Pallin took 3rd, while the other 3 riders had to go through the LCQ (last change qualifer) in order to make it into the final. Jake Scott did not compete in the LCQ, as a crash during practice caused shortness of breath and medical advised him to sit out the remainder of the day. In the LCQ it was up to LaVallee and Lieders to take top 5 and squeeze into the final. In the 8-lap qualifier, Lieders was sitting in 4th place until an unfortunate off pushed him back a few spots, just missing his chance to be in is first X Games final. LaVallee was in the back row of the LCQ and worked his way up to 6th and was reeling in the 5th place transfer position. When LaVallee came over a jump for the pass, a shadow over the course caused misjudgment in his speed and LaVallee tipped over in the last corner of the last lap. The 20 minute snocross final was up to Pallin. Off of the line, Pallin broke through towards the top of the pack. Throughout the 16-lap final, Pallin was able to make a pass and finish an awesome 5th place! A very impressive run for Pallin and an overall golden weekend for Team LaVallee!
2014 marks the thirteenth year that the Winter X Games were held at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, CO and a five-year extension was just announced, making Aspen “home” for the Winter X Games until 2019.
The team is back on the road for the ISOC National Snocross Series and is heading east to Deadwood, SD this Friday and Saturday for Rounds 7 and 8. Good luck, Team LaVallee!
“I am super excited on how things went at X Games this year! Jack Rowe represented the team proudly in Freestyle and I couldn’t be happier for our results in snocross. And as for me taking home another X Games gold . . . that was icing on the cake.” – Levi LaVallee (Co-Owner/Racer, Team LaVallee)