SnowRider Online Magazine

Tucker Hibbert vaulted to snocross fame in 2000 by skipping his high school classes to take part in ESPN’s winter X-Games and walking away with the Gold Medal. As the 15-year old wonder boy, he became the X-Games youngest winner, an honor he still holds. That same year, his dad, Kirk Hibbert, was the oldest X-Games athlete at 42.

Hibbert grew up in Thief River Falls, home of Arctic Cat snowmobiles–while his dad, Kirk Hibbert, held various positions with the factory around race sled development. Dad, Kirk, raced cross country back in the 1970s, plus the Pro Men’s (over 35) snocross classes after Tucker started racing in the regular classes.

Starting at the top of the charts can make dropping further down a tough break to take, no matter what sport or industry you’re involved in, so it was no surprise to many that when Tucker lost the 2003 WSA year-end high points in both Pro Open and Pro Stock to Blair Morgan, he announced he was retiring from snocross to pursue motocross full-time.

However, Tucker skirted the snocross fringes, even though he didn’t play full-time with the big boys in the WSA for several years. See this ESPN bio for a full review of what he’s been up to.

Slednews, among others, predicted that Tucker Hibbert was back for the 2006-2007 snocross racing season. He was scheduled for the X-games and four other races through the season, with all the sites carefully selected to fit around the Motocross season that began in early February. Like his dad before him, he was acknowledged one of Arctic Cat’s top drivers, and had factory sled sponsorship.

The 2006-2007 snowmobile season produced two Snocross race day first places for Tucker in Brainerd–one for each round of the Pro Stock event. Hibbert also took the X-Games gold for 2007, his first gold since his record setter seven years earlier–in the interim years he had placed between 2nd and 27th.

On the motocross scene, Tucker continued to be best known for his snocross racing, as evidenced in this interview with AMA Motocross

Tucker’s personal web page gives a review of his placings in both racing arenas.

But the big question–not answered on his web site (at least not today)–is whether Tucker Hibbert is dedicated to the sport of Snocross or not. Given his two first-place finishes at the WPSA National Season opener in Duluth maybe Arctic Cat will sweeten the offer to keep him off wheels and on skis. Then again, maybe his September bride, Mandy, will have something to say on the matter, too.

My guess is that Tucker will go where he’s winning, and right now that’s snocross, not motocross. Will he take the WPSA season year-end rankings again in his two classes: Pro Open and Pro Stock? Maybe yes … maybe no. Only time will tell.

by Linda Aksomitis,
Managing Editor for SnowRider Online Magazine
and www.guide2travel.ca