POSTED: Thursday January 28th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WINNING DESIGN REVEALED IN THE CONTEST TO DESIGN LINDSEY VONN'S HELMET FOR THE VANCOUVER OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Laddie Lee Whitworth from Pocatello, Idaho Wins Trip to Vail, Colo., for His Winning Design
"She skis like she’s on fire.” - Whitworth on Vonn
NEW YORK - Jan. 28, 2010 - Lindsey Vonn, one of the most successful Alpine skiers in U.S. history and a member of the U.S. Ski Team for the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, challenged fans, in a contest on NBCOlympics.com, to convince her that their artwork is what she should feature on her helmet while soaring down the slopes during the upcoming Games that start on Feb. 12 on the networks of NBC Universal. Now the winning helmet design has been revealed.
Laddie Lee Whitworth, a retired machinist from Pocatello, Idaho is the Grand Prize winner. He entered the design that Lindsey chose to wear in her quest for Olympic medals in Vancouver. His design can be seen now at http://www.nbcolympics.com/lindseys-helmet/results.html. With his winning design, Whitworth wins a trip to Vail, Colo., but he says that having the design on Vonn’s helmet means more to him than the trip.
“I’m 60-years-old and this is one of the highlights of my life,” said Whitworth. “I am actually going to be able to watch an Olympian ski with something on their head that I designed. I hope that when Lindsey bears down the hill, the helmet can keep up with her because she skis like she’s on fire.”
“Thanks to Laddie for his awesome design,” said Vonn. “It’s really dynamic and will look cool when I am skiing downhill - like the flames are flying by really fast.”
NBCOlympics.com and Vonn began this contest in November asked people to help design the helmet that she would wear in Vancouver. More than 500 designs were entered from 38 states across the country and a team of judges including Vonn and her husband Thomas a former U.S. Olympic Ski Team member, narrowed the field down to three finalists.
The winning design was announced and the helmet was revealed today at the SnowSports Industries America ("SIA") annual industry trade show, in Denver.
Robert Chester, from St. Louis, Mo., an Art Director for Nestle Purina was the runner-up and won a pair of head skis with bindings and Carolyn McHale of Boulder, Colo., Creative director and owner of Boldface Design Group, Inc. won a Uvex helmet and goggles for her third place finish.
Helmet artist Chris Wood of Airtrix, a Santa Barbara, Calif., based helmet design company, painted the winning helmet.
Members of the media can get more information about NBC Universal and its programming on the NBC Universal Media Village Web site at www.nbcumv.com.
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Keywords · NBC · Lindsey Vonn
Name: Adam M Freifeld
Organization: NBC
Email:
Phone: 212-664-6772
URL: www.nbcumv.com
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