The X Games is an annual sports event, controlled and arranged by the U.S. sports broadcaster ESPN, focusing on action sports. The first X Games were held in the summer of 1995 in Rhode Island. The Winter X Games are held in January or February (usually in January) and the Summer X Games are usually held in August, both in the United States. The location of the Winter X Games is in Aspen, Colorado through 2014, while the location for the Summer X Games is in Los Angeles. This past Thursday, four time gold medalist winner, Caleb Moore, died of injuries from a crash on January 24th, 2013. Moore was being treated at a hospital in Grand Junction since the crash. Family spokeswoman Chelsea Lawson confirmed his death. The tragedy was the first death in the 18-year history of the X Games. Moore was attempting a back flip in the freestyle event in Aspen when the skis on his 450-pound snowmobile caught the lip of the landing area, sending him flying over the handlebars. He landed face first into the snow with his snowmobile rolling over him. Moore stayed down for quite some time, before walking off with help and going to a hospital to treat a concussion. Moore developed bleeding around his heart and was flown to a hospital in Grand Junction for surgery. The family later said that Moore also had a complication involving his brain. Caleb Moore’s brother, also a serious competitor in the Winter X Games, Colten Moore, was also injured in a separate crash that same night. He suffered a separated pelvis in the spill. Fellow snowmobile rider Levi LaVallee recently described Moore as a “fierce competitor.”
“A very creative mind,” LaVallee said. “I’ve watched him try some crazy, crazy tricks and some of them were successful, some of them not so much. But he was first guy to get back on a sled and go try it again. It shows a lot of heart.” The Moore family said in a statement they were, “ Grateful for all the prayers and support they have received from people around the world.” X Games officials said that they would conduct a thorough review of freestyle snowmobiling events and adopt any appropriate changes. “For 18 years, we have worked closely on safety issues with athletes, course designers and other experts. Still, when the world’s best compete at the highest level in any sport, risks remain,” they said, noting that Moore was hurt performing a move he had done several times before. X Games officials expressed their condolences and said Moore, a four-time X Games medalist, would be remembered “for his natural passion for life and his deep love for his family and friends.”