Fans at the SnowSports Industries America's Snow Show in Denver had a treat this weekend as Lindsey Vonn's (Vail, CO) Olympic racing helmet was unveiled. Vonn, one of the most successful alpine skiers in U.S. history and a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, challenged fans, in a contest on NBCOlympics.com, to convince her that their artwork is what she should feature on her helmet. The upcoming Games that start on Feb. 12 on the networks of NBC Universal. The winning design was unveiled Thursday in the Uvex booth at the annual trade show.

Laddie Lee Whitworth, a retired machinist from Pocatello, ID, was 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 NBCOlympics.com/lindseys-helmet. With his winning design, Whitworth wins a trip to Vail, 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 the contest in November by asking 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.

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, CO, creative director and owner of Boldface Design Group, Inc. won a Uvex helmet and goggles for her third place finish.

View Original Post at dylamagazine.com

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• Olympics, Ski, Sports, Winter Games, Wintersports

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• Skiing
• United States