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Save the Date X Games Barcelona 2013: May 16-19
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    • 1V

      Caleb Moore Remembered

      Pushing the limits of ATV and snowmobile freestyle expanded Caleb Moore's world and ultimately led to his tragic death this week.
    • 2J

      Caleb Moore gallery

      Look back at the career of snowmobile freestyle rider Caleb Moore, who died Jan. 31 from injuries suffered at X Games Aspen.
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    RVdA

    Caleb Moore dies after crash

    ESPN.com news services

    Published Thursday January 31, 2013


    DENVER -- Caleb Moore, an innovative freestyle snowmobile rider who was hurt in a crash at the Winter X Games in Colorado, died Thursday morning. He was 25.

    Moore was being treated at a hospital in Grand Junction since the Jan. 24 crash. Family spokeswoman Chelsea Lawson confirmed his death, the first in the 18-year history of the X Games, which are produced by ESPN.

    "He lived his life to the fullest. He was an inspiration," Lawson said.

    A former all-terrain vehicle racer, Moore switched over to snowmobiles as a teenager and quickly rose to the top of the sport. He won four Winter X Games medals, including a bronze last season when his younger brother, Colten, captured gold.

    Joseph Faraoni/ESPN ImagesCaleb Moore died from his injuries suffered in a crash Jan. 24 during the Snowmobile Freestyle finals at X Games Aspen.

    Caleb Moore was attempting a backflip 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. Moore 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, of Krum, Texas, also had a complication involving his brain.

    Colten Moore was injured in a separate crash that same night. He suffered a separated pelvis in the spill.

    The 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 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."

    B.C. Vaught, Caleb Moore's agent for almost a decade, said he first saw Moore when he was racing an ATV in Minnesota and signed him up to star in some action sports movies.

    Later, Moore wanted to make the switch from ATVs to snowmobiles and Vaught helped him. A natural talent, it only took Moore two weeks to master a difficult backflip.

    Moore's brother also got involved in snowmobiling, the close-knit duo pushing each other to become better.

    Moore honed his skills in Krum, a town about 5,000 people 50 miles northwest of Dallas that rarely sees snow. Instead, he worked on tricks by launching his sled into a foam pit. After a brief training run on snow ramps in Michigan, he was ready for his sport's biggest stage -- the 2010 Winter X Games.

    In that contest, Moore captured a bronze in freestyle and finished sixth in best trick. Two years later, his biography on ESPN said, "Caleb Moore has gone from 'beginner's luck' to 'serious threat.'"

    That was hardly a surprise to Vaught, who said, "Whatever he wanted to do, he did it."

    Vaught said Moore didn't believe his sport was too extreme, but rather "it was a lifestyle." He was good at it -- along with ATV racing -- as he accumulated a garage full of trophies.

    Close
    • 1null

      Caleb Moore: 1987-2013

      Rotation Sports Management

      Freestyle snowmobile rider Caleb Moore died Thursday from injuries he suffered a week earlier during the Snowmobile Freestyle competition at X Games Aspen. Browse through our photo gallery for a look at the career of the athlete and colorful personality.

    • 2null

      Colten and Caleb Moore

      Rotation Sports Management

      With Texas swagger and big personalities, Caleb Moore and his little brother Colten, left, came into freestyle snowmobiling in 2009 from freestyle ATV and quad racing.

    • 3null

      X Games Debut

      Mike Roth/ESPN Images

      Caleb Moore made his X Games Aspen debut in 2010 after transitioning from quads. "They're seriously like hanging out with a real live video game. They can do pretty much whatever they want," said snowmobile freestyler Jimmy Fejes of the Moore brothers.

    • 4null

      Snowmobile Freestyle Bronze

      Matt Morning/ ESPN Image

      Caleb Moore picked up a bronze medal Jan. 28, 2010, in Snowmobile Freestyle at his first X Games, finishing behind gold medalist Justin Hoyer, center, and silver medalist Joe Parsons, left.

    • 5null

      X Games Aspen 2011

      Eric Bakke/ESPN Images

      Caleb Moore competes in the Snowmobile Freestyle final at X Games Aspen 2011, where he earned his second bronze medal.

    • 6null

      Three Events

      Matt Morning/ESPN Images

      Caleb Moore competed in three Snowmobile events at X Games 2011 Aspen: Best Trick, Freestyle and Speed & Style.

    • 7null

      Caleb Wins Silver

      Allen Kee/ESPN

      Caleb Moore's biggest achievement at X Games Aspen was his 2011 silver medal in Best Trick.

    • 8null

      Sibling Rivals

      Michael Roth/ESPN Images

      "My advantage is that I have my brother there to push me. Then, individually, I have the style and the mentality to go all the way," Caleb Moore, left, said about his brother, Colten, shown at X Games Aspen 2011.

    • 9null

      Tandem Backflip

      Gabriel Christus/ESPN Images

      Caleb Moore told ESPN that his tandem backflip during Best Trick with Colten Moore at Aspen in 2011 was his favorite X Games memory. "Everyone went nuts over it," Caleb said. It was technically Colten's turn, and he received a score of 0 for the stunt.

    • 10null

      Brotherly Love

      Gabriel Christus/ESPN Images

      Caleb and Colten Moore celebrate after they landed their tandem backflip Jan. 30, 2011, at X Games Aspen 2011.

    • 11null

      X Games Aspen 2012

      Matt Morning/ESPN Images

      Caleb Moore competes in the Snowmobile Freestyle final Jan. 26 at X Games Aspen 2012, where he picked up his third bronze medal in the event. He was competing with a broken tailbone and a cracked pelvis.

    • 12null

      Flashing Their Medals

      Matt Morning/ESPN Images

      Caleb Moore displays his bronze medal and brother Colten Moore, right, flashes his gold medal they earned in Snowmobile Freestyle at X Games Aspen 2012.

    • 13null

      Caleb Moore: 1987-2013

      Mike Roth/ESPN Images

      Before X Games Aspen 2013, Caleb Moore told ESPN, "I wake up every morning, I work out, I try to eat healthier, I'm completely out of party mode, I don't go out. I'm strictly focused on trying to reach that holy grail of a gold medal."

    a
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    • 1null

      Caleb Moore: 1987-2013

      Freestyle snowmobile rider Caleb Moore died Thursday from injuries he suffered a week earlier during the Snowmobile Freestyle competition at X Games Aspen. Browse through our photo gallery for a look at the career of the athlete and colorful personality.
    • 2null

      Colten and Caleb Moore

      With Texas swagger and big personalities, Caleb Moore and his little brother Colten, left, came into freestyle snowmobiling in 2009 from freestyle ATV and quad racing.
    • 3null

      X Games Debut

      Caleb Moore made his X Games Aspen debut in 2010 after transitioning from quads. "They're seriously like hanging out with a real live video game. They can do pretty much whatever they want," said snowmobile freestyler Jimmy Fejes of the Moore brothers.
    • 4null

      Snowmobile Freestyle Bronze

      Caleb Moore picked up a bronze medal Jan. 28, 2010, in Snowmobile Freestyle at his first X Games, finishing behind gold medalist Justin Hoyer, center, and silver medalist Joe Parsons, left.
    • 5null

      X Games Aspen 2011

      Caleb Moore competes in the Snowmobile Freestyle final at X Games Aspen 2011, where he earned his second bronze medal.
    • 6null

      Three Events

      Caleb Moore competed in three Snowmobile events at X Games 2011 Aspen: Best Trick, Freestyle and Speed & Style.
    • 7null

      Caleb Wins Silver

      Caleb Moore's biggest achievement at X Games Aspen was his 2011 silver medal in Best Trick.
    • 8null

      Sibling Rivals

      "My advantage is that I have my brother there to push me. Then, individually, I have the style and the mentality to go all the way," Caleb Moore, left, said about his brother, Colten, shown at X Games Aspen 2011.
    • 9null

      Tandem Backflip

      Caleb Moore told ESPN that his tandem backflip during Best Trick with Colten Moore at Aspen in 2011 was his favorite X Games memory. "Everyone went nuts over it," Caleb said. It was technically Colten's turn, and he received a score of 0 for the stunt.
    • 10null

      Brotherly Love

      Caleb and Colten Moore celebrate after they landed their tandem backflip Jan. 30, 2011, at X Games Aspen 2011.
    • 11null

      X Games Aspen 2012

      Caleb Moore competes in the Snowmobile Freestyle final Jan. 26 at X Games Aspen 2012, where he picked up his third bronze medal in the event. He was competing with a broken tailbone and a cracked pelvis.
    • 12null

      Flashing Their Medals

      Caleb Moore displays his bronze medal and brother Colten Moore, right, flashes his gold medal they earned in Snowmobile Freestyle at X Games Aspen 2012.
    • 13null

      Caleb Moore: 1987-2013

      Before X Games Aspen 2013, Caleb Moore told ESPN, "I wake up every morning, I work out, I try to eat healthier, I'm completely out of party mode, I don't go out. I'm strictly focused on trying to reach that holy grail of a gold medal."

    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."

    X Games officials said in a statement 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.

    Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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