CORONA, Calif., (Dec. 27 , 2007) – – Monster Energy-backed Paul Thacker , who's jumped a snowmobile farther through the air than anybody on the planet, will get to show off his mad skills this January (24th) in the ESPN Winter X Games 12's new Snowmobile Speed & Style competition at Aspen/Snowmass, Colo.
"This is really a dream come true for me,"said Thacker, fighting back fake Hollywood chick tears like he'd won a Grammy® or something. "For real, I'm pumped to be representing with Monster at Winter X this January. The new Speed & Style event should be cool for the fans, allowing us to really show what can be done on mountain with a sled. People are going to be into it – –big time."
Thacker, a former collegiate hockey player and banker-turned Sledneck, is looked up to as one of the world' 's premier sled riders in the world by his peers – including Monster Energy's Chris Burandt , himself a Winter X gold medal winner ('07). And though Thacker's attempt to qualify in the Snowmobile Freestyle (like FMX) discipline came up a bit short (6th when they took the top four), Thacker got a call from ESPN officials inviting him to compete in the Speed & Style event.
"Thacker's kind of a bag of potatoes when it comes to freestyle –although he's getting better,"said Burandt laughing. "So Winter X basically had to come up with an event to suit him on account of it takes all of us two separate jumps to fly as far as he can one. The Snowmobile Speed & Style event is right up our alley. So it'd be nice if we could pull a 1-2 for Monster – –with me getting first, of course (more laughter)."
Said Thacker: "I'll just be happy to carry Burandt's silver medal around to the bars in Aspen while he's doing my laundry."
For more information on the upcoming Winter X Games 12, link to: www.expn.com
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it sleds, road racing, MX, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, off-road, surf, snow, BMX – –name it – – the athletes are rocking' 'Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types – –Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, the new Monster/fruit juice hybrid called "M-80"and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Paul Thacker digs 'em – –so will you. On the 'Net at www.monsterenergy.com.
