ESPN Action Sports

A longtime snocross racer who began racing Pro at age 17 (he's now 29), Gulla sustained a near fatal injury at the '09 Duluth National in Duluth, MN: another rider slammed into the back of Gulla's head. He broke his skull where it connects with the spine, had bleeding in his brain and spent several days in the hospital. Gulla says he's lucky to be alive. He was cleared to ride again in July '10. A big-event rider who shines when the lights are brightest, the three-time Winter X medalist owns HillCross gold from 2003 and is a near lock to make the SnoCross final: he's done so in 8 of 9 attempts and has two bronze.