Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck’s Tucker Hibbert finished fourth in the Snocross event at X Games Aspen 2017, breaking a gold medal streak he’s held since 2007. The 14-time medalist was fast in practice and qualifying but came up short in the final.

Typically known for its big-air, technical snocross tracks, X Games featured a short track this year with lap times hovering around the 19-second mark. Throughout the race day, the track developed into an icy, one-line course making the holeshot even more critical for a top finish.

In Hibbert’s qualifying race, pileups off the start in the tight, right-hand first corner caused officials to restart the race twice. On the third start, Hibbert was third off the line. In lap six of 15, he made the pass for second and held that position to the end of the race.

In the eight-rider final, Hibbert got a solid jump off the line and made it through the first corner clean to round lap one in fourth place. He pushed hard for 30 laps, looking for a line but struggled to find an option for a clean pass to finish the race where he started, in fourth.

Next up for Hibbert is the fifth stop of the ISOC National Snocross tour in Salamanca, New York.

For more information on his schedule, visit tucker-hibbert.com.

On day two of X Games 2017, crowds gathered in Aspen, Colo. for the Snow BikeCross Finals, bringing a rapidly growing, new sport to the forefront of the action sports world. The introduction of Snow Bike Racing to the X Games did not disappoint, delivering a thrilling race featuring both young and veteran athletes fighting for the inaugural gold medal.

Of the event’s 15 racers, 11 competed on Timbersled snow bike conversion systems, with dirt bikes transformed into snow vehicles seen racing through the Colorado snow. Timbersled-sponsored athletes Reagan Sieg, Brock Hoyer, Axell Hodges, Nolan Heppner, Jake Scott, Alfredo Gomez, Harris Huizenga, Ronnie Faisst, Colton Haaker, Jimmy Jarrett and Keith Curtis had strong performances in an effort to earn a spot on the podium. In the end, Brock Hoyer would take the inaugural gold in Snow BikeCross.

“It ain’t over until it’s over,” said Gold Medalist Hoyer. “I dug deep and I can’t thank Timbersled, Polaris, Yamaha and Rockstar enough for giving me the best product out there and for helping me bring home the gold for everyone that’s a part of this crew!”

Hoyer was the fastest qualifier and ran a nearly perfect race to win by a margin of more than 11 seconds. He took the lead early in the 30-lap final and never looked back. The tight, short track got rougher with every lap, but Hoyer’s Timbersled snow bike conversion system gave him the performance and handling he needed to work his way through traffic in dominating fashion. Hoyer was joined on the podium by Silver Medalist Haaker, who also raced a Timbersled system on his Husqvarna bike.

“Congratulations to Brock Hoyer, Colton Haaker and all the racers competing today in this impressive debut for snow bikes at X Games,” said Chris Wolf, vice president, Polaris Snow Division. “A special thanks to Brock for being a pioneer for Timbersled and the sport of snow biking. He’s been with us from the beginning. This is a huge milestone!”

A Timbersled system converts a dirt bike into a snow bike that rides on a ski up front and a track in the rear. The system is a top choice for snow bikers and racers because it delivers the best performance, the most-innovative technology and the most-exciting riding experience. Timbersled is owned by the No. 1 powersports company, Polaris Industries, and is the brand fueling the rapid growth of snow biking.

Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) is a global powersports leader that has been fueling the passion of riders, workers and outdoor enthusiasts for more than 60 years. With annual 2016 sales of $4.5 billion, Polaris’ innovative, high-quality product line-up includes the RANGER, RZR and Polaris GENERAL side-by-side off-road vehicles; the Sportsman and Polaris ACE all-terrain off-road vehicles; Indian Motorcycle midsize and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot moto-roadsters; and Polaris RMK, INDY, Switchback and RUSH snowmobiles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with parts, garments and accessories, along with a growing aftermarket portfolio, including Transamerican Auto Parts. Polaris’ presence in adjacent markets globally include military and commercial off-road vehicles, quadricycles, and electric vehicles. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe.

Visit polaris.com for more information.

A short course with limited passing opportunities placed a premium on starts at the 2017 Winter X Games and Adam Renheim and his Jimmy John’s Ski-Doo answered the bell with clutch performances in both qualifying and the main event.

“I was a little beat up after blowing a belt and crashing hard in Deadwood,” said Renheim.

We decided not to race there on Saturday and I think it helped coming into X Games feeling fresh. Practice felt good but I didn’t really ride to my true potential in timed qualifying, I didn’t push in some lines and the other guys did and they were a little faster.

With only eight spots available in the main event and no last chance qualifier race to fall back on, it was imperative to finish in the top four positions in the heat race to have any shot at standing on the podium. Renheim avoided the first turn carnage which took place in his qualifying round and raced to a quick lead coming out of the second turn. Securing the win meant an inside starting spot for the final, which would prove to be critical.

When the green flag waved to start the main event, Renheim shot into the lead and raced up Buttermilk Mountain side by side with fellow countryman Petter Narsa. Narsa would gain an advantage after two laps but Renheim stayed in tow as the Swedish riders began to gap the rest of the field. Renheim cruised to a second place finish virtually unchallenged, repeating his Silver medal performance of 2016.

“My heat race was good,” said Renheim. I knew I would have an inside spot in the final and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I tried to do some passes on Narsa, but each time he would stretch away so I just decided to do my own race. I was hoping he would get tired but the track was so easy. It was still good for the team. It has been easier for me to set up the sled now that we are back with Ohlins. I can speak my own language and they have known me for a long time. It’s too bad the year has not been the best so far but I think right now everything is good.

Everyone on the team can focus on their job and I am feeling 100%.” The team will make a quick turnaround at the race shop in Princeton, Minnesota before heading cross-country to Salamanca, New York for rounds nine and 10 of the national snocross series.

In a dramatic final that saw riders attempt their most spectacular aerials, Monster Energy’s Brett Turcotte took home the Silver medal on his 29th birthday with a technical backflip variation, joined on the podium by his teammate Joe Parsons winning Bronze.

What a grand finale to an action-packed weekend: As the last official event of X Games Aspen 2017, today’s Snowmobile Best Trick competition had the crowd at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado, on its feet.

Under perfect bluebird skies, eight competitors took two runs each to post the highest score on the specially prepared track: The Best Trick course offered riders a choice between an 18-foot-high quarterpipe ramp, a 23-foot high extra steep ramp and two super kicker ramps. Competitors had been working all year on their tricks and some moves attempted today have never been landed before in a competition setting.

In a finals overshadowed by several hard falls, Turcotte kept his composure and landed the perfect combination between high-flying aerial and technical difficulty: His fully extended Coyote Indy – a backflip performed hanging from the handlebar, twisting his body sideways while kicking his feet – earned the Canadian from Kamloops, British Columbia, an 83.33 point score and the Silver medal.

This marks the second trick-riding medal for the former SnoCross racer – after last year’s Bronze in Snowmobile Freestyle – and third overall X Games podium. Celebrating his 29th birthday today in Aspen, Turcotte closely ceded the win to Sweden’s Daniel Bodin, who pulled an Indy seat grab flip on his last attempt.

Upon winning Silver today, Turcotte said, “It’s blowing my mind that I got second today. I knew it was going to be a battle of attrition this year, with people going down and the quarterpipe being new. I just kind of stuck to my guns and got a good score on that Coyote Indy.” Having suffered a heavy fall during last night’s Snowmobile Freestyle final, he was happy to compete in the first place. “I wasn’t even moving off the couch after my wreck last night. But I iced my ribs all night and felt good today. I’m lucky to be walking away from X Games and glad I survived.”

Taking the Bronze medal, Turcotte’s teammate Parsons battled a new body varial variation – he had to abandon the maneuver mid-air after a less-than-ideal takeoff – but still landed a huge backflip over the centerpiece jump for a 77.66 point score.

“I pretty much just fell into the Bronze medal by default. I wasn’t able to do what I wanted to do,” said Parsons, adding: “My stomach was in knots all day anticipating Heath’s double backflip. My head wasn’t in it today, I couldn’t pull it off.”

Today’s Bronze is Parsons’ 17th career X Games medal – after winning Gold in yesterday’s Snowmobile Freestyle final – making him the most decorated snowmobiler in X Games history. The 29-year-old from Yakima, Washington, also currently holds the second-most X Games winter event medals and regularly trains new moves together with Monster teammates Heath Frisby and Cory Davis on a foam pit at his home.

The tremendous risk involved in today’s stunts became apparent when Monster Energy’s Frisby attempted a double backflip, a move never before landed in competition. Launching from the specifically designed ramp – built with a 67-degree incline to support maximum backward rotation – the three-time X Games gold medalist from Middleton, Idaho, fully committed to the double spin. But as his 450 lb. snowmobile under-rotated, Frisby touched down before completing the second spin and was thrown off upon impact. Fortunately, the 32-year-old walked away from the crash unscathed.

Aki Pihlaja survived his first visit to the rough and tumble Days of ’76 rodeo arena in Deadwood, South Dakota, escaping the mid-season rounds of the national snocross tour with a third place podium on Friday.

Both Pihlaja and Pro Open racer Adam Renheim experienced the difficulties that come with the bump and run style of racing that Deadwood is famous for. Aki was turned over at the start of Saturday’s final and had to race from the very back of the 15 man field. Remarkably, he was able to make his way up to the sixth position at the checker flag and still finish ahead of his closest competitor in the Pro Lite championship.

The weekend did not go as well for Renheim, who was involved in a couple of crashes and pileups which were a common occurrence. As a result, Adam was not feeling the best on Saturday and was unable to start the Pro Open main event.

The national tour will be off this weekend as the team makes its way to Aspen, Colorado for the ESPN Winter X Games. Adam will be looking to repeat or improve his performance of last season, when he captured a Silver medal at the event, propelling him to a strong second half of the national tour.