Skier Overcomes Addictions to Win X Games Gold

Canadian skier Chris Del Bosco—who previously struggled with drug and alcohol issues that nearly wrecked his career—won his second Skier X gold medal at the Winter X Games in Aspen yesterday.  Back when 29-year-old Del Bosco was 17, a positive test for marijuana led to a two-year suspension that effectively killed his then-alpine skiing career. He then struggled with alcoholism, earning multiple DUIs and serving time in jail. His lowest point was blacking out one night and being found in a ditch—unconscious and with a broken neck. Now sober since September 2006, he’s eyeing a spot on the Canadian team for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. “I was headed down a pretty dark road,” said Del Bosco. “I finally came to a point where I had to sink or swim and figure it out. I chose to figure it out. It’s been pretty amazing from there.” Del Bosco—who grew up in Colorado and holds dual citizenship—is now only the fourth man in Winter X games history to hold two Skier X golds.