Jackson Strong, a contestant at this year’s X Games in Aspen, Colo. was trying a trick called “The Jack” when things started to go wrong.
The Australian motocross rider and extreme sports star perfected the complicated move on his bike during the summer X Games, and wanted to try it out on snow — after logging just four hours of practice time on a snowmobile, as an ESPN reporter notes in the video above. But in the middle of what ESPN described as a “back flip release move,” Strong apparently lost control of the vehicle; he tumbled to the ground as his snowmobile came crashing down right next to him. Engine still running, the snowmobile plowed through a restraining fence and into the crowd of spectators. While no one was apparently injured by the snow machine, a young boy was hurt while trying to get out of its way; according to X Games organizers, he was treated and later released.
Strong himself walked away from the incident; another rider at this year’s events was not as lucky. During a competition last Thursday snowmobiler Caleb Moore was thrown over the handlebars of his 450-pound vehicle, which then rolled over him. He was flown to a hospital in Grand Junction, Colo., where he developed heart and brain complications. The 25-year-old remains in critical condition.
Jackson Strong, a contestant at this year’s X Games in Aspen, Colo. was trying a trick called “The Jack” when things started to go wrong.
The Australian motocross rider and extreme sports star perfected the complicated move on his bike during the summer X Games, and wanted to try it out on snow — after logging just four hours of practice time on a snowmobile, as an ESPN reporter notes in the video above. But in the middle of what ESPN described as a “back flip release move,” Strong apparently lost control of the vehicle; he tumbled to the ground as his snowmobile came crashing down right next to him. Engine still running, the snowmobile plowed through a restraining fence and into the crowd of spectators. While no one was apparently injured by the snow machine, a young boy was hurt while trying to get out of its way; according to X Games organizers, he was treated and later released.
Strong himself walked away from the incident; another rider at this year’s events was not as lucky. During a competition last Thursday snowmobiler Caleb Moore was thrown over the handlebars of his 450-pound vehicle, which then rolled over him. He was flown to a hospital in Grand Junction, Colo., where he developed heart and brain complications. The 25-year-old remains in critical condition.