CARRABASSET VALLEY – Snowboard sensation Seth Wescott will be honored at his home ski mountain today on a day that is being officially proclaimed as Seth Wescott Day across Maine in honor of the state’s first Winter Olympics gold medalist.

Wescott, who grew up in Farmington, won the medal last week in the Olympics’ inaugural snowboardcross event in Italy.

He flew into Portland late Wednesday night and showed up Thursday night at The Rack, a restaurant he co-owns at Sugarloaf USA. He was greeted by about 200 fans and friends at the restaurant, where he signed autographs and showed off his medal.

Wescott, 29, was scheduled to speak to the public about his Olympic experience at noon today in front of the Sugarloaf base lodge. He was then expected to snowboard down a special snowboardcross course on the mountain, where fans were invited to join him.

As part of the celebration, Gov. John Baldacci has declared Saturday as Seth Wescott Day in Maine.

On Thursday at The Rack, Wescott had a smile, a handshake or a hug for everyone who came up to him, whether he knew them or not.

The good wishes that people sent from Carrabassett Valley helped him toward his goal of winning a gold medal, Wescott said.

Before each race as he stood in the gate, he kept telling himself, “Today is your opportunity. Live your dream, live your dream, live your dream,” he told the Sun Journal of Lewiston.

In the final four-man race, he knew he was going to win a few seconds before crossing the finish line, half a board length ahead of the silver medalist.

“It was an amazing feeling. You’re just celebrating in your heart. You’re just so excited,” he said.

Wescott said he’ll soon be on the road for three weeks, including a trip to Japan where he’ll try to win the snowboard world title for his event.