Assignment 5-1: Profile Story

Nick Acheson
February 12, 2010

As the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia draw near, it is important to know a little more about an athlete who has called Maine home his entire life. If you haven’t heard of him yet, you will soon. I’m talking about Seth Wescott, the 33 year old gold medalist snowboard cross athlete from Farmington, ME.

Although Wescott was born in North Carolina, he has lived in Maine nearly his entire life. “I consider myself a Mainer,” said Wescott in an interview with NBC. This Olympic athlete already knows what it feels like to compete in Olympics. In 2006, he represented the United States at the winter Olympics in Torino, Italy winning a gold medal in Snowboard Cross (also known as “Boardercross” or “Snowboarder X”). Because it was the first time Snowboarder X had been made an event at the Winter Olympics, Wescott is the only male Olympic gold medalist ever to win the event

For those of you who do not know or have never heard of Snowboarder X, here’s a crash course. It consists of a group of snowboarders (usually 4 to 6) starting simultaneously racing down an inclined course racing to the finish line. The course consists of multiple man made sections that include jumps, gaps, steep and narrow terrain, turns, and drop offs. The rider who stays in control and maneuvers all of these sections the fastest wins the race. In most races, riders receive gold, silver, and bronze medals for finishing in the first, second, and third place, respectively.

It isn’t often that we as Mainers can brag about athletes that grow up and train in our State. The cold weather and climate make it difficult for athletes from many other sports to become great. But, the Winter Olympics are the one exception to the rule. Seth Wescott is living proof of this.

So when the Olympics start in these next couple days, stay on the lookout for Seth Wescott. You probably won’t have to stay tuned in long to hear about him.

Snowboard Cross qualifying begins at 10:30 a.m. (Vancouver time) on January 15.