Sno-Cross Superstar Stops in at St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West

"I can tell you one thing, it never gets old. It's a very humbling moment," said Sno Cross superstar Tucker Hibbert, answering a question offered by a St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West student on what it feels like to win a gold medal. 

Hibbert, at the ripe age of just 26, has won five X-Games gold medals. He's widely considered to be the top Sno Cross rider in the world. 

"To have someone of his talent here is pretty outstanding," said Andrew Murfield, principal at the school, said. 

Sno-cross racing is similar to motocross or BMX, except on snowmobiles. Hibbert has been racing since the age of 8, when he was in Idaho. 

Jack Vanada, lead coordinator for Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the West Metro, served as the day's emcee. 

"When," Jack asked, "did you feel like this could be something you are really good at?"

Tucker smiled and said, "I think when I won my first gold medal, I realized that everything was coming together." 

Ironically, Tuckert's dad, Kurt, was in that race, back in 2000. He finished fifth. 

"It just showed me that the hard work we had done to get me ready had really paid off. All the practice and everything had led to that," Tucker said. 

Brenda Deving, a sixth-grader, asked what Tucker thought his "most important event in life has been, so far?"

After pondering it a bit, Hibbert said marrying his wife and publicist, Mandi, and winning the X Games medals were among his tops. 

"Every little thing you do kind of shapes who you are," Hibbert said. "There's just no substitute to working hard."