Paul Thacker

Paul Thacker

Snowmobile

Paul Thacker had a storied Winter X Games career as a freestyle snowmobile rider and for a long time held the distance world record on a snowmobile at an incredible 301 feet. He was always one of the most fun and engaging characters at X Games and an innovator to the extreme.

In November 2010, Thacker was at his friend -- and fellow X Games competitor -- Justin Hoyer's house getting things warmed up for the coming winter season. His world changed dramatically when a simple practice jump resulted in a spinal injury that rendered him a paraplegic.

Thacker, 35, has been undaunted by this unfortunate turn of events and this year is coming back to X Games Aspen, returning to his roots as a racer. The man who used to spend his time banging bars with Snocross legend Blair Morgan and jumping against Levi LaVallee and Heath Frisby is now back to take on the SnoCross Adaptive field