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	Alas, Poor Yorak

Mount Snow continued the lovin' today, as Friday's action here at the Winter X Games got underway at noon with two more events awarding medals in the chilly air. All told, 350 athletes are here, but snowboarding and snowmobiling were the sports du jour, attracting huge crowds to the base area for some high-flying action.

The crowds were big and enthusiastic Friday, especially when facing an ESPN TV camera. Guys' shirts came off and everyone put their arms over their heads in big Xs, hootin' and hollerin' for the camera...especially the snowmobile fans.

Snowboarder X
Snowboarder X was the first event to go to the finals, the six-man (and woman) heats beginning at noon and lasting for two hours. The venue was a good hike from the main base area, yet still attracted several hundred fans who were treated to a huge kicker jump at the finish.

X Games Fun   Total Prize Money: $445,000   States represented: 26   Countries represented: 17   Average age of competitors: 24   Oldest: Kirk Hibbert (42)   Youngest: Shaun White (13)   Visit Mount Snow

The course was steep and fast, with a gap jump and several good turns to test the head-to-head heats. In the men's division it looked like Shaun Palmer � fresh off Thursday's Skier X victory � would dominate again today as he headed into the final run with the fastest qualifying time and a clean string of victories leading up to the finale.

But luck was not on the Palm's side today as he crashed out of the final run and was carted off on a stretcher with injured ribs. That's all we know at this point, and he had promised the Zone an interview after the finals! So Drew Neilson won the gold medal, flying to the finish with the hardware in hand.

"Guys' shirts came off and everyone put their arms over their heads in big Xs, hootin' and hollerin' for the camera...especially the snowmobile fans...."

The women went big on the final jump as well, and Leslee Olson won the final round. Down below, the crowds were loving it as the ladies let it fly all the way through the course, finishing their runs to the sound of 500 cow bells (provided by ESPN) and $10,000 for Olson.

Snowmobile Snocross
Snowmobiling has proven a popular addition to the winter X lineup, and so we hiked from the Snowboarder X venue to the Snocross track, right in front of the main lodge. What we saw was a mix of motocross and mountain bike race, with the sleds being worked on in a pit area and thousands of fans waiting for the main event.

Working our way through a sea of jackets sporting checkered flag motifs and "Polaris" and "Ski Doo" logos, we avoided the chewing tobacco in the snow and planted ourselves trackside for the finals. After a parade lap of green, yellow and black sleds the final race was on and � we have to admit � was exciting. The sleds were clearing huge double jumps and crashing and sliding and it was all on snow and we liked it.

Amazingly, the winner of the gold medal is only 15 years old. He was actually racing against his father in the final, but his pops saying that when he saw his son take the holeshot he almost drove off the course in excitement. Next week, young Tucker Hibbert gets his drivers' permit.

Snow Mountain Biking Biker X

	SnoMo Power!

The mountain biking event isn't until tomorrow, but Friday saw qualifying which gives us a sneak peak at who will be doing well come the finals. Women's racing saw "The Missile" Missy Giove qualify two seconds faster than Marla Streb, with Katrina Miller and Elke Brutsaert rounding out the top women. Last year's gold medallist Tara Llanes qualified fifth-fastest.

Men's qualifying was topped by local boy Lars Tribus who, working as a pharmaceutical salesperson, is the only pro in the field to hold a full-time. He got 9th at the NORBA race here in Mount Snow last summer, but went faster today. Myles Rockwell was next fastest, followed by last year's gold medallist Steve Peat. David Watson and John Tomac rounded out the top five.

As darkness fell on Mount Snow, everyone headed out for some dinner and drinking. An athletes' concert is scheduled for tonight with Eminem and Local H.

— Ari Cheren, sliding down the snow, camera first for MountainZone.com