iseultdevlinSHARE
Seth Wescott, Sugarloaf Maine press conference. Photo: Dan Cassidy
Wearing “Welcome Home Seth” badges and mini-flags on helmets, kids swarmed Sugarloaf, Maine by the hundreds to meet the two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and get his autograph. Maine Governor John Baldacci addressed the 1000-plus crowd on a sunny Saturday and presented Wescott with a plaque, naming him an official state ambassador for being the first Maine resident to win a gold among the many other reasons. He also named March 6 Seth Wescott Day.
During the festivities, Wescott kicked off the return of the “Visa Seth Wescott Ride With Me SBX Tour,” a national tour that started at Sugarloaf and includes stops at Brighton Mountain, Utah, on March 16, and The Summit at Snowqaulmie, Washington, on March 14. The tour is supported by Visa, Sprint, Boyne Resorts, Norway Savings Bank, and Bern Unlimited.
“My main goal is to get kids fired up about boardercross,” said Wescott, adding that he wants to bring visibility to the sport now and in the future. “We need some high level events in the U.S. that kids can participate in.” Wescott wants to grow the sport of boardercross because it is something an average kid can enjoy and excel at. “The freestyle side of the sport is becoming unattainable,” he said, adding that there’s a greater opportunity to grow cross-type sports in the next four years.
Each tour starts with interactive clinics—free to anyone who signs up—followed by an autograph session and an after-riding party. Wescott also plans to stop in urban markets including New York, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Seattle to promote the sport.
What does it mean for Sugarloaf, a Boyne Mountain resort, to have a local boy win big at the Olympics? Beyond the obvious visibility Sugarloaf is getting (remember the Today show when Wescott wore his Sugarloaf t-shirt), Seth sends a message to kids that he’s a local guy from a local mountain, according to Michael Fudzinski, director of athlete marketing for Octagon, an agency that represents Wescott.
Seth Wescott at a Sugarloaf press conference with Maine Governor John Baldacci (left). Photo: Dan Cassidy
The value it brings to Sugarloaf is immeasurable, says John Diller, general manager. Wescott, who could choose to live anywhere, remains committed to the area. Diller said Wescott chose to train at Sugarloaf instead of at Park City.
“Sugarloaf is in my heart,” he said, plus it’s his home where he hangs out with childhood friends and plays golf with local kids. Wescott is a partner at a popular restaurant, The Rack, and has started a campaign to bring a gondola back to Loaf, estimated to be a $10 million project. “There’s another mountain right next to us,” he said, mentioning that he’s excited to help make that a reality.
After his day of hero worship, Wescott walked around the village—just another guy hanging out, wearing his baseball hat and sunglasses.
Tags: Seth Wescott, sugarloaf maine
