Parsons pulls off snowmobile speed and style upset
Aspen, CO Colorado

ALL |
ASPEN ” Joe Parsons broke a bulkhead in his Ski-Doo snowmobile the other day and needed a replacement ” pronto.
No problem, one was shipped to him from Canada in time to be installed.
The new bulkhead worked well Thursday night as Parsons beat the defending champion Levi LaVallee in the finals of speed and style.
“It feels really good,” said Parsons, who’s from Yakima, Wash. “Everything worked well.”
Minnesotan LaVallee, who’s competing in all four snowmobile disciplines this week, had one bad jump that cost him points and a title.
“I was all revved up. I went for my fourth jump, doing my cliffhanger, which I can do in my sleep. The sled just came off a little bit crooked and nose high,” LaVallee explained. “I’m up there and I have to do something. So I did a little one and it was pretty horrible.”
Parsons said he followed the lines of LaVallee all the way to the finish, knowing he had time on his side with LaVallee’s mistake on the jump.
“I’m sorry I’m stealing your lines,” Parsons said to LaVallee at a post-race news conference.
No apology necessary.
“He’s riding so solid,” LaVallee said. “I knew with those bobbles it wasn’t going to be enough.”

Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism
Readers around Aspen and Snowmass Village make the Aspen Times’ work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.
User Legend: Moderator
Trusted User
Mountain Games, now celebrating 20 years, evolved out of ’70s and ’80s Vail recreation
When mountain culture enthusiasts and athletes descend on Vail for the 20th annual Mountain Games from June 7-12, they will carry on a tradition that dates back to the 1970s in Eagle County and was once deemed illegal.