We are proud to be bringing you the last installment of a 3 part update from Helly Hansen ambassador Samson Danniels and his qwest for X-Games Gold in Mono X. A huge congratulations to Samson on his huge win at the X-Games in Mono X - here is his account of the finals:
Part 3:
Well I made it home! The trip was a massive success, and it feels unreal to have an X Games gold medal sitting on the table in front of me! This is what dreams are made of; this is what I’ve worked so hard for for so many years; this feeling!
The final race day was a huge success in so many ways. Semifinals started at about 3, but due to a delay in the woman’s Skier X there was no time left for us to have an inspection of the course. This would have been fine, except I still had never hit or inspected the 65-foot kicker at the bottom of the course, and it was a mandatory hit in the finals and semifinals!
For the semi finals I was in the second heat. I had a great warm up earlier in the day and I felt really confident and solid with my skiing. I was a really good kind of nervous, the type that brings out the best in me. I took my spot in the starting gate and I started singing songs and visualizing the course. We got the order for racer ready and I grabbed a hold of the gates, ready to pull them out of the ground! The gate dropped and I was neck and neck with another racer through the first feature. He was trying to take my space and squeeze me out, but I got the glide on him and was out front entering into the third feature. I was off my line and still without space from the neck and neck race. I got hung up and landed the step-down awkwardly, and caught an edge. I knew anything could happen with the other competitors and I got up as fast as I could to get back into the race. I wasn’t the only one that went down, and when I got up I was quickly back into third place. I tried to stay relaxed and I passed into second at the road gap. From there I maintained my position, knowing I would qualify for finals.
From the finish area I didn’t want to waste any time getting back to the top for the final race. I got straight on the lift and told some jokes to my tech on the way. Comic relief is the best for taking the stress off!
After about fifteen minutes I got into the gate, and went back into my routine. I was ready to pull that gate out of the earth if it meant the hole-shot!
When the gate dropped I knew I had a great start, taking the hole shot just barely away from fellow racer Greg Peck. Over the first feature and second feature I was leading, and then Greg passed me with a better line on the step-down feature. I stayed cool and maintained my glide through the roller section, taunting at Greg out in front of me. We went through the road gap and into the next set of rollers, and I was maintaining second place with Greg in my crosshairs. Into the berms section I saw Greg scrubbing speed, and I knew I could out ski him in the turns. On the second berm I ran as clean of an edge as I could, and made my move at the entrance of the third berm. Inside pass, claiming my line… I was in the lead with less than a quarter of the race to go! I left the last turn of the course and I didn’t dare look back, but I could hear Gregs ski, and I knew he was close! I didn’t touch the brakes in the final straightaway, and sent it as deep and fast as I could off the bottom kicker, landing halfway to the finish line! As soon as I was in the air I could see the finish, and no other racers between it and me. I knew I had taken it! X Games Gold! I stomped the landing and let out a huge scream of excitement, I had not only survived my first X Games, I was taking home the gold medal!
That night was a blur, after all the interviews and photo-ops were done with we hit the town. Everywhere we went, my friends and I were treated like rock-stars! Everybody wanted to celebrate the win with me, and it was one of the best feelings an athlete can ever have! 2012 X Games were a total dream come true, and I can’t wait to defend the title next year!
Be sure to check out the videos of Samson's amazing run at the X-Games: Watch Here
As well as Samson's interview and play by play of the race: Watch Here
