Snocross champ aims for record-breaking jump
On New Year’s Eve, snocross champion Levi LaVallee will attempt to top his world record 361-foot leap at the 2011 Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. LaVallee will jump his snowmobile alongside motorcyclist Robbie Maddison as both athletes concurrently leap more than 300 feet of water between the North and South parks of Embarcadero Marina Park in San Diego. The event will air live on Saturday at approximately 11 p.m. EST on ESPN, ESPNHD, and ESPN3.
Last December, just hours after shattering the world record for longest jump on a snowmobile, LaVallee was badly injured in an accident while training for his jump in the 2010 New Year’s Eve Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. The seven-time Winter X Games medalist suffered a cracked pelvis, broken ribs, cracked vertebrae and collapsed and punctured lungs. This year, a fully recovered LaVallee will return to jump again, attempting to best his standing world record.
“I am so pumped to be able to come back for this year’s New Year’s Eve jump,” LaVallee, 29, said. “Last year obviously didn’t go the way I was hoping and I am excited to have another chance at this amazing opportunity.”
Beyond his world record distance jumps, LaVallee is widely known for becoming the first person to double backflip a snowmobile in the 2009 Winter X Games.
