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Seth Wescott, one of the world's top snowboarders and the first to win an Olympic medal in Turin in the new Olympic entry of snowboard cross (SBX), was born June 28, 1976 in Durham, North Carolina.

He later trained on the slopes at Carrabassett Valley Academy, near which he now makes his home at the base of Sugarloaf in Maine.

Showing early, all-around athleticism, Wescott started skiing when he was 8 and two years later hopped on his first snowboard, later competing in both sports when he seriously turned to snowboarding in competition at age 14.

Meanwhile, he also successfully competed in soccer and track while still in high school.

Although he first made a name for himself with spectacular aerial arobatics in the halfpipe, Wescott took up snowboard cross in 1997. He is now the world champ at the sport, consisting of four riders executing moves such as whoops, waves, banks, spines and kickers in a NASCAR-like race to the finish.

Since 2000, Wescott has taken four U.S. national championships and is a seven-time SBX medalist at the X Games.

In 2005, he became SBX world champion, and at the 2006 Winter Olympics became the first winner ever of SBX Olympic gold. Competing in Vancouver in 2010, Seth Wescott again took home gold in men's snowboard cross in a tense race to the finish against Canadian Mike Robertson.

More about Seth Wescott around the Web:

Seth Wescott - The official site including Seth Wescott news & updates, event calendar, career highlights, bio, timeline, video clips, picture gallery.

Team USA - Seth Wescott - Fact sheet and pictures from the U.S. Olympic Committee with interesting personal info, vital stats, career highlights, related resources.

US Snowboarding - Seth Wescott - Good profile from the official site with picture and vital stats, career highlights, pics, video.

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also see -> Snowboarding | Olympics | Olympic Snowboarding

Winter X Games