Snowmobile pro returns to stomping grounds

By RYAN AMYS Chronicle Sports Writer

WEST YELLOWSTONE - This small town in southwestern Montana is special for Tucker Hibbert. It was the first place he strapped on a helmet and tightened up the gloves for a snowmobile race.

SEAN SPERRY/CHRONICLE Tucker Hibbert catches air while competing in a heat at the West Yellowstone Jack Links Snocross nationals, Saturday. Hibbert started his racing career in West Yellowstone at the age of 9. That was when he was 9 years old, and to say a lot has happened to the Driggs, Idaho, native since then would be an understatement.

He's aged 14 years since that first West Yellowstone race and he recently got married. But in the meantime, he has also become a phenomenon in the snowmobile world.

He has, over the years, won 19 of his 24 races as a semi-pro in the World PowerSports Association, which makes him the winningest semi-pro of all time.

He's also a three-time pro-points champion in the WPSA Snocross Circuit, and is the second-winningest pro, with 33 victories out of 79 races.

His list of credentials doesn't stop there. Hibbert has won six Winter X Games medals, two of which are gold. When he won the first gold medal in 2000 at the age of 15, he became the youngest gold medalist in the games’ history. He was thus dubbed "Wonder Boy."

With such an impressive resume, Hibbert could qualify for rock-star treatment. But that's not the way he lives his life.

"That rock-star lifestyle's not for me," he said. "For me, it's about family and friends. I don't try to spend all my money and try to live this big, glamorous life. This is my job and this is what I do.

"It's a lot of work but at the end of the day, it's pretty fun," he said.

The Jack Links Snocross in West Yellowstone this weekend gave Hibbert a chance to return to the roots of his racing career. It sparked memories for not only him, but for all those who have watched him develop into

a standout.

Marge Wanner has been the snowmobile events coordinator for West Yellowstone's Chamber of Commerce for 18 years, so she was there when Hibbert began racing.

"His father, Kirk, is a legend when it comes to snowmobiles, and when (Kirk) was in his high times of racing, Tucker was coming up through the ranks," Wanner said. "I remember one of Tucker's first races, during a time when it was all about Kirk, and here's this young kid who wins his junior race and he's out there shaking hands with everyone while he's taking his winning loop.

"He was trying to take the show away from his father. But I guess he's always been an entertainer," Wanner said.

This past weekend was no different when it came to entertainment. Hibbert didn't disappoint the crowd, who have adopted him as a local due to the fact his birthplace is just 120 miles away.

He won the Pro Super Stock finals on Sunday and was in position to sweep both pro events, but weather conditions put the national race on hold, postponing the pro open event until this morning.

But even though Hibbert's victory in the Pro Super Stock extended his overall lead in point standings, he's cutting the season short to pursue his career racing motorcycles.

Hibbert said he had no regrets about backing out of the snowmobile season when a circuit championship is all but sealed.

"Last year it was the same situation," he said. "I raced half the season, half the races and then went on to (motorcycles). When I left, I was leading both the championships in points.

"It's not really about winning the championships and things like that for me. It's about winning races and trying to do the best I can while staying happy and motivated. For me, that means doing a handful of races and switching gears."

This nonstop racing for Hibbert - snocross, supercross and motocross - gives him only one month of relaxation.

"Usually, if I'm not riding or working out or getting ready to go to a race, I'm sitting on the couch with my feet up, trying to rest up a little bit. I really don't have time for anything else."

Those at West Yellowstone just hope the local won't be kicking his feet up when snocross comes back around.

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