LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winter X Games Gold Medal Snowboardcross (SBX) champion Nick Baumgartner arrives in Aspen, Colorado this week looking for a repeat in the six-man riding action on Buttermilk Mountain at the 2012 Winter X Games. Qualifying takes place on Friday, January 27 and the Finals on Saturday, January 28.
Baumgartner, a member of the 2010 US Olympic Team, won last year's Winter X SBX competition in dramatic style. Less than two weeks prior to the highly televised event on the ESPN networks, the Iron River, MI native broke his collarbone on a training run on Copper Mountain. Baumgartner underwent surgery, which resulted in a plate and 15 screws in his shoulder. An injury that would suspend most racing seasons, proved nothing could hold back this proud father of then six-year-old son Landon, who was in attendance with grandparents Bob and Mary.
Baumgartner said following the Gold Medal run while holding Landon, "Knowing that my boy was at the bottom was so phenomenal. 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."
Baumgartner, who competed this past summer in his first season as a TRAXXAS Torc Series off-road, short-course truck racer, ended teammate Nick Holland's five-year winning streak at Winter X last year and is looking to collect more hardware next weekend with a second Gold Medal in SBX.
WHAT: US Snowboarder, 2011 Winter X Games Gold Medal SBX Winner Nick Baumgartner looking for a repeat at the 2012 Winter X Games
WHEN: Friday, Jan 27 @ 2PM MST SBX Qualifying
Saturday, Jan 28 @ 2PM MST SBX Final
WHERE: Buttermilk Mountain - Aspen, Colorado
CONTACT: For more information on Nick Baumgartner and to secure media or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Carie Goldberg of Gold Standard Sports at (310) 709 7630 or carie@goldstandardsports.com and Sandy Peddicord of TrendSide PR at (515) 554 6934 or sandy@trendsidepr.com.
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The following pictures are available for download:
[Image] Nick Baumgartner wins gold at the 2011 Winter X Games snowboardcross (SBX)
[Image] Nick Baumgartner holding his son Landon on the podium at the 2011 Winter X Games