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Levi LaVallee to Attempt New Year Record Snowmobile Jump

After the successful attempt from Travis Pastrana last year, history is about to be made again at the same Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. event. This time, seven-time Winter X Games medalist and champion snowcross racer Levi LaVallee will attempt to jump his Polaris snowmobile to beat the current record of 301 feet (92m).

LaVallee is famous for becoming the first person to double backflip a snowmobile in 2009. His record breaking attempt will take place at the Embarcadero Marina Park in the Port of San Diego.

Yes, you’ve heard right. San Diego will be the venue for this year’s event, even though it's not exactly the first place that comes to our mind when we think of snow. However, Red Bull says that LaVallee will use artificial turf on his 1,100-foot (335m) run-up path, which should be enough to provide the necessary grip for his snowmobile’s track to ensure maximum speed as he hits the take-off ramp.

“I can’t even explain how excited I am to be part of this year's Red Bull: New Year. No Limits.,” said LaVallee. “With the jump gap itself being longer than the existing distance record, it is going to be one heck of a ride!”

LaVallee becomes the fourth athlete to star in Red Bull’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration on ESPN. Robbie Maddison was first to participate in 2007 by jumping his motorcycle 322 feet (98m) over a football field in Las Vegas and followed it up in 2008 by jumping onto – and off – of the 96-foot-tall (29m) Arc De Triomphe at Paris Las Vegas.

Also in 2008, Rhys Millen backflipped an off-road truck and just missed sticking the landing. As said, last year Travis Pastrana jumped his rally car 269 feet (82m) over water, landing on a barge in Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor.
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