ASPEN — So close. Snowboardcross Olympic Gold Medalist Seth Wescott, of Carrabassett Valley, nearly had his first Winter X Games gold medal (in 13 attempts) last Saturday, Jan. 30.

Wescott twice traded the lead with five-time X-Games Snowboardcross gold medalist and fellow 2010 U.S. Olympic Ski Team member Nate Holland, from Sandpoint, Idaho before Holland eked out the win on the Aspen snowboard race course.

Wescott came into the championship run with the highest qualifying score from either of the two semifinal brackets and as the top pick on the U.S. Olympic Snowboardcross team.

The Silver Medal finish, his fifth in 14 X-Games, did not disappoint Wescott as he expressed satisfaction that he is healthy and is focused on the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver beginning Feb. 12.