TAKE 5

Levi Lavallee is one of, if not the most famous person in snowmobiling. If you ask him, he would say “no” and would simply laugh it off. That is just an example of how humble he is. His name is most synonymous with the word snowmobiling, and he was voted the 19th most influential person is Action Sports. Levi started riding snowmobiles at the young age of eight, and from the start, he was hooked and wanted to give racing a try. After placing 2nd in his first snowmobile race, Levi has continued to succeed in racing, and worked his way up to the Pro Class in 2003. With the desire to win and the need for speed, after multiple snocross podiums and wins, Levi had the opportunity to try snowmobile freestyle. With the tricks coming naturally, Levi was able to win his first freestyle competition he entered, (with only a month of practice) and was awarded an invite to compete in Freestyle, Speed & Style and Snocross, at the 2008 Winter X Games (the most disciplines any snowmobile athlete had ever competed in). Since then, Levi has continued to compete in all Snowmobile disciplines in the Winter X Games. He has earned himself a total of 13 Winter X Games medals, (7 of which are gold) a snocross Championship Title, is the first athlete to attempt a double backflip on a snowmobile, and holds the current world record for longest snowmobile distance jump of 412ft (2011 Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. live on ESPN). Levi is a great spokesperson for snowmobiling, and is no doubt the ambassador that brands hope to have. For this months Take 5, We asked Levi, What were your top five tracks that you have raced on?

take 5 LEVI MEMORIES

X GAMES 2006

Big Rhythm, big Berms, and Big Jumps. The first straight had some steep and deep doubles that were pretty technical , then the downhill had a 100’+ jump that blasts you down the hill towards a huge berm. I was on a mission at the 2006 X Games, having fast times in practice, I won the heat race, and in the final I came out 2nd behind Robbie Malinoski off the start. I jumped past Robbie into a minefield, and landed on his ski tip which instantly ejected him. I led for 13.98 laps before coming off in a small double double before the finish line. I quickly remounted, but Blair Morgan got by me before I got going, so I finished second. That was the last year before Tucker started his nine Gold Medal streak in snocross.

RED BULL SNOW BOUNDARIES 2016 (ERX)

The track had a snocross section, cross country sections, a little ice section, some dirt and mud, and a lot of energy zapping! The race was about an hour and a half long, so it changed drastically from the beginning to the end. This time, I was the most exhausted I’ve ever been after a race, trying to keep the young guns (Zach Herfendahl, Andrew Carlson, and Ryan Springer) in check.

DULUTH 1997

Rough, dirty, and the first time Blair Morgan showed us the proper way to get around it. I was in the Jr. Classes, and I remember it was mostly brown dirt with huge holes, back in those times, we would just pound through… Other than Blair Morgan, who found ways to double over things and make the rough track look so easy! Everyone took notice, and before long, every one was standing up looking for things to double!

LAKE GENEVA 2017

The use of the third hill, which is the steepest, went to the extreme that year, combined with the “Joker Lane” made that track look super fun…. Or at Least Tucker Hibbert made it look fun, as he doubled his way down the third hill that most were just rolling. The classic launch off the first uphill was extra big with the mod sleds, and sailing down that hill looked Huge! Lake Geneva always has one of the most technical tracks, and in 2017, it was one that stood out for me.

CANTERBURY 2002

In 2002, we may have raced at Canterbury three times, if my memory is correct. Either way, I remember the track being big air, good rhythm, and the dog leg down into the hole near the start seemed more pronounced, possibly due to lack of snow to build it up more. I fared out really well at Canterbury that year, winning semi-pro races and finishing on the podium…. I also blew my knee out at Canterbury that year, but regardless, I still loved the Canterbury track in 2002, and it’s always one of my favorites because of the big air, technical rhythm section, and one of the loudest crowds in snowmobiling!