The X Games are a series of action sports events founded by ESPN Inc. and aired on ESPN networks and ABC. In late 2022, ESPN sold the long-running property to MSP Sports Capital, a private equity firm co-founded by Jahm Najafi and Jeff Moorad, though the event is still aired on ESPN and ABC despite the ownership change.[2]
The X Games have been held all over the world and typically include sports such as skateboarding, BMX, freestyle motocross, skiing and snowboarding. Participants compete to win bronze, silver, and gold medals, in addition to prize money. X Games events also feature music and culture elements like live music performances, athlete autograph sessions, and interactive, family-friendly exhibitions.
The X Games gained media exposure due to their big name sponsors, top-tier athletes, and consistent fan attendance. As the Journal of Sport Management (2006) explains, Generation X and Millennials are the two demographics most highly valued by marketers. This creates a broad approach on marketing towards that certain demographic, which is why the X Games marketing and economic outlook is so "out of the box". According to a 2008 report by ESPN, in 1997, the Winter X Games inaugural year, 38,000 spectators attended the four-day event. In 1998, the attendance dropped to 25,000 spectators. But just two years later, a record attendance of 83,500 people attended the Winter X Games East Coast debut.
As part of the X Games, there have been performances by various rock bands over the years, as well as a DJ being on-site at all events. The X Games have made it a point since its founding to stage an eco-friendly event. Such measures include using biodiesel fuel in their vehicles and organizing recycling campaigns.[3]
X Games Winter Events
Variation of X Games logo, used for Winter X Games
The X Games Aspen 2002 was the first time an X Games event was televised live and also had coverage by ESPN's flagship news program, SportsCenter. Viewership across the three networks that carried coverage of the event– ABC Sports, ESPN, and ESPN2– exceeded 2001's household average by 30% according to Nielsen Media Research. The event also reached record highs in several demographic categories. To accommodate the first-time live coverage, nighttime competitions were added, resulting in record attendance for the Aspen/Snowmass venue in Colorado.
2002 was the first time X Games was held in Aspen at Buttermilk Mountain. X Games has been held in Aspen every winter since 2002. Also in 2002, ESPN announced the establishment of the X Games Global Championship. The Global Championship featured two distinct venues hosting competitions in summer and winter action sports simultaneously. It consisted of six teams of the world's top athletes, grouped together by their region of origin, to compete in the four-day event. The winter sports were held in Whistler Blackcomb Resort in British Columbia, and the events included snowboarding and skiing.
In May 2003, the X Games held the Global Championships, a special event where athletes from five continents competed across 11 disciplines. The event was held in two locations: the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and Whistler, British Columbia.[5][6] The final team results, in order, were the United States, Europe, Australia, Asia, and South America.
In May 2011, ESPN held a bid to select three host cities in addition to Los Angeles, Aspen, and Tignes, France, to form a six-event calendar for the next three years beginning in 2013.[7] In May 2012, the selected cities were announced: Barcelona, Spain; Munich, Germany; and Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.[8] The two European cities have hosted the Summer Olympic Games in the past, whereas Brazil has provided several X Games competitors.[9][10][11] Since 2010, Winter X Games Europe has been held in Tignes and also began holding events in Norway in 2016. An event in Sydney, Australia was held in 2018 and winter and summer events were also planned for 2019 and 2020 in China and a return trip to Norway in 2020.
X Games Chiba, the first edition to take place in Japan, was introduced in 2022.[12]
Dave Mirra takes his second gold medal in BMX Street.
In the debut of Skateboard Vert Doubles, Tony Hawk and Andy Macdonald teamed up and took home the gold.
Snowboarding Big-Air makes its debut at the Summer X Games with Peter Line taking the gold for the men and Tina Dixon taking the gold for the women.
In Skateboard Vert, Tony Hawk took home the gold with the first of his many history-making moments at the X Games: the "Perfect Run". His score was a 97.50.
Chris Senn takes home his second gold medal in Skateboard Street.
Trevor Meyer takes the gold in the debut of Flatland BMX.
1998: X Games IV– San Diego (June 1998)
The team of Dennis McCoy and Dave Mirra take the gold in BMX Vert Doubles.
Brian Foster edges out Ryan Nyquist and Joey Garcia to take gold in BMX Dirt.
Dave Mirra takes his third gold medal in BMX Street.
Trevor Meyer claims his second gold medal in Flatland BMX.
Tony Hawk and Andy MacDonald take home their second gold medal in Skateboard Vert Doubles.
Rodil de Araujo Jr. takes his second gold medal in Skateboard Street after missing the '97 games with an injury.
1999: X Games V– Pier 30 & 32, San Francisco(June 25– July 3, 1999)
Dave Mirra wins his fourth gold medal in BMX Street.
Andy MacDonald and Tony Hawk claim their third gold medal in Skateboard Vert Doubles.
First professional sporting event (full event) broadcast live on the Internet.
After eleven failed attempts, skateboarder Tony Hawk finally landed a 900-degree spin (the 900).
Travis Pastrana won the first-ever Moto X Freestyle event at the X Games, after dislocating his spine the previous spring. He also scored the highest run ever (99.00 points).
2000: X Games VI– Pier 30 & 32, San Francisco, California (August 17–22, 2000)
Dave Mirra won BMX Park, landing the first-ever double backflip in competition.
Dennis Derammelaere wins gold in the inaugural 'King of the Hill' Street Luge event.
The name of the street event for BMX and Skateboarding is changed to Skateboard Park and Bike Stunt Park.
Eric Koston wins his first-ever X Games gold medal in Skateboard Park.
Bob Burnquist wins the gold medal in Skateboard Vert Best Trick with a Fakie 5–0 Kickflip out on the grind bar.
Travis Pastrana wins his second gold medal in Moto X Freestyle. He also attempted to pull off a backflip but bailed out and broke his foot upon landing.
Tommy Clowers won the gold medal in the first-ever Moto X Step Up event at a record-breaking height of 35 feet, Kris Rourke takes home the silver medal and Brian Deegan gets the bronze medal, after that Tommy Clowers wins the silver medal in Moto X Freestyle.
Bucky Lasek scored a 98.50 in Skateboard Vert, the highest in X Games history.[15]
Bob Burnquist managed an almost perfect Skateboard Vert run with a score of 98.00. This run is considered by many to be the best run ever in the history of skateboard vert, as Burnquist landed several tricks that had never been done before. Tony Hawk, who was commentating, nearly lost his voice while screaming in disbelief.
Taïg Khris won the In-line Vert event, with the first double backflip in Inline skating history.
Stephen Murray lands the first double backflip in Bike Stunt Dirt and wins the gold medal with Ryan Nyquist taking the Silver and T.J. Lavin with the Bronze.
Mat Hoffman landed the first no handed 900-degree spin on a BMX.
Mike Metzger landed the first backflip in X Games history. He also pulled off two consecutive flips; one of them over an 80-foot gap, in a competition run for the victory. He became the first person to win the event other than Travis Pastrana.
Mike Metzger wins his first gold of the competition in the Moto X Big Air/Best Trick with a Backflip No Footed.
Carey Hart takes home the silver, finally landing a backflip.
Matt Buyten wins gold in Moto X Step Up, ending Tommy Clowers' winning streak in Step Up, but Tommy Clowers takes the silver and Ronnie Renner takes the bronze.
Travis Pastrana returns to reclaim his fourth gold medal in Moto X Freestyle.
Brian Deegan landed the first-ever 360 in Moto X Freestyle, earning him the bronze in Freestyle and gold in Best Trick.
Travis Pastrana landed the world's first double backflip on a dirt bike, and won Moto X Best Trick with a score of 98.60, the highest current score in best trick. He also claims gold in the Moto X Freestyle event.
Kevin Robinson landed the double flair for the first time.
Adam Jones became the fourth person to win the Moto X Freestyle event at the X Games.
Kyle Loza won on his first gold medal in the Moto X Best Trick competition in his first appearance by performing the "Volt".
Shaun White won the gold medal in skateboard vert beating Pierre Luc-Gagnon (aka PLG) and Bucky Lasek.
Jake Brown was hurt after landing the first 720 in Big Air competition. He fell from 40'+ and landed on his backside and back on the flat. The force of the fall knocked his shoes off. After 8 minutes laying motionless, he walked away with help. He suffered a fractured wrist, bruised lung and liver, whiplash, ruptured spleen and a concussion.
Mat Hoffman returned to competition in BMX Big Air.
Simon Tabron made an X Games first, doing back-to-back 900s in BMX Vert.
2008: X Games XIV– Los Angeles (July 31– August 3, 2008)
Danny Way clipped his shins on the lip of the quarterpipe after a 20+ foot freefall during the Big Air competition, which the commentators refer to as the "second worst fall ever at the X Games" (the first being Jake Brown's the year before). After spending a few minutes with paramedics, Way limped back to the ramp and went on to nail the trick he had fallen on, coming in second place, behind Bob Burnquist who scored a 96.00.
Ryan Sheckler won gold in Skateboard Street, his second gold medal at the X Games.
Jeremy Lusk won a gold medal in the Moto X Freestyle event.
Kyle Loza won his second gold medal in the Moto X Best Trick competition in two appearances by performing a never-before-seen move named the "Electric Doom".
Ohio's Anthony Napolitan landed the first-ever double front flip on a bicycle.
Blake Williams became the first non-American rider to win FMX gold.
Kyle Loza became the first person to three-peat gold Moto X Best Trick in controversial fashion by using the same trick he used to win in 2008, the "Electric Doom", especially after the judges had said that "innovation" would win the gold that year.
Ricky Carmichael fell and hurt himself on Moto X Step Up. Due to the circumstances, dual gold medals were awarded to Carmichael and to Ronnie Renner.
Pierre-Luc Gagnon won gold in Skateboard Vert for the second consecutive year.
In his first X Games appearance, the retired IndyCar champion Kenny Brack won Rally X gold over the defending gold medalist Travis Pastrana. In a TV first, co-drivers Jen Horsey and Chrissie Beavis commentate live inside the racecars.
Ashley Fiolek, 18, won the Women's Motocross Super X, becoming the Games' first deaf medalist.
Travis Pastrana competed in four events after pulling out of Best Trick at the last minute. He came back to freestyle after a 3-year break and took gold, pulling yet another double backflip, the first in Moto X freestyle competition. He had troubles in Rally, costing him gold in Rally Racing and the chance to compete in Super Rally, but came back on the bike and won his first gold in Moto X Speed & Style, beating Nate Adams
Ashley Fiolek won the Women's Motocross Super X for the second year running, becoming the only rider to do so.
Cam Sinclair made what some call the greatest comeback in action sports history, winning his first X Games gold medal in Best Trick by pulling a double backflip, the trick that bit him hard in Red Bull X-Fighters only 8 months before, leaving him in a coma for seven days, and having him retrain his body, learning how to walk and, eventually, to ride again.
Ryan Sheckler won the X Games gold medal in Skateboard Street seeking redemption after his X Games XV mishap.[16]
Nyjah Huston came first in the Men's Skateboard Street, his first X Games gold medal since his participation in the event at the X Games XIV.
Travis Pastrana fell while attempting a rodeo 720, or as he called it "The Toilet Paper Roll", in Moto X Best Trick, breaking bones in his foot and ankle. Despite the injury, he competed in RallyCross three days later using hand controls mounted to the steering wheel.
Jackson Strong landed the first frontflip on a dirt bike during Moto X Best Trick, claiming the gold.
2012: X Games 18– Los Angeles (June 28– July 1, 2012)
Bob Burnquist won his fourth Big Air gold medal, and his ninth total gold medals.
Ronnie Renner won the gold medal in Moto X Step Up, breaking the previous record height of 37' by 10' making it the highest ever at the X Games with 47'.
Garrett Reynolds (BMX rider) 5-peats in BMX Street, the only competitor to win BMX Street in its 5-year history at X Games.
Sébastien Loeb (Citroën DS3), by then eight consecutive times World Rally Championship winner since 2004, claimed gold on his debut in the X Games' RallyCross event. He dominated silver medalist and WRC rival Ken Block by about 10 seconds after Block's Ford Fiesta was hampered by a tire puncture during the second half of the main final.
Jagger Eaton becomes the youngest person to compete in the X Games.
Jake Brown lands the first ollie 720 in Skateboard Big Air, earning the bronze.
Mitchie Brusco lands the first body varial 900 in Skateboard Big Air.
Bob Burnquist wins his 3rd consecutive gold medal in Skateboard Big Air earning his 23rd X Games medal, and landing the 1st "Lien Air Rodeo Flip 720".[19]
Jamie Bestwick wins his 7th consecutive gold medal in BMX Vert.
Bryce Hudson wins Moto X Step Up as an X Games rookie.
Laia Sanz wins Women's Moto X Enduro X as a rookie, defeating 2-time defending gold medalist Maria Forsberg.
Mitchie Brusco landed the first 1080 in Skateboard Big Air, earning the silver. He also became the youngest Skateboard Vert medalist (16), earning the bronze.
Bob Burnquist won his 4th consecutive gold medal in Skateboard Big Air, earning his 24th X Games medal.
Alana Smith won silver in Women's Skateboard Park, becoming the youngest X Games medalist (12).
Jamie Bestwick won his 8th consecutive gold medal in BMX Vert.
Chad Kagy lands the first frontflip flair in competition during BMX Vert.
Zack Warden landed a bike-flip backflip to late tailwhip during BMX Big Air, and took his second straight gold.
Elliot Sloan won his first gold medal in Skateboard Big Air, defeating Bob Burnquist, who earned his 26th X Games medal (bronze). Tom Schaar took the silver.
Vicki Golden won her third consecutive gold medal in Women's Moto X Racing, defeating Meghan Rutledge, after Rutledge crashed across the gap. She also became the 1st woman to compete in a freestyle moto X competition, earning bronze in Best Whip.
Vince Byron landed the first 540 double tail whip in BMX Big Air, earning the silver. Morgan Wade took the gold.
Jamie Bestwick won his ninth straight gold medal in BMX Vert. One of the tricks Bestwick pulled was a front flip flair (front flip with a 180 degree rotation).
Newcomer Jimmy Wilkins won the gold medal in Skateboard Vert. This was Wilkins first pro competition.
Colton Satterfield becomes the second person to land a double flair in competition and the first to land it on the Big Air ramp. With this, he took his second straight gold in BMX Big Air.
Thomas Pages won the first-ever Moto X Quarterpipe competition, landing a bike-flip and scoring a 95.
Vince Byron landed the first 540 flair on a vert ramp during the BMX Vert contest and took the gold, defeating nine-time defending champion Jamie Bestwick.
Jackson Strong landed a frontflip in Moto X Best Trick and took the gold. Strong had just returned from the hospital after he crash-landed on a double backflip during the Quarterpipe competition about an hour before.
Jamie Bestwick won his tenth gold medal in BMX Vert, landing an Alley-oop 540 Tailwhip (which had not been done before).
Scotty Cranmer broke his back when his BMX bike malfunctioned while attempting a backflip double tail whip in BMX Park.
First Summer X Games to be held at professional training facilities, without an in-person audience, both due to the COVID-19 pandemic and close proximity to the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Second Summer X Games to be held at professional or private training facilities, without an in-person audience. The decision was made in 2021 due to COVID-19 protocols, but also due to positive response from athletes, who enjoyed the relaxed "backyard" format.
Events were held at 3 separate facility venues, one in Ramona, and two in Vista: The CA Training Facility skatepark, and Elliot Sloan's backyard vert and megaramp setup, nicknamed "The Sloanyard".
ESPN confirmed that moving forward, all future summer X-Games events will be in-person events open to public audiences once again.
2023: X Games Japan Chiba 2023 (Spring)
Tony Hawk has announced he will be competing once again in Skateboard Vert Best Trick.
2023: X Games California 2023 (Summer)
Competitions taking place between July 16–23, 2023 across multiple venues in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Ventura.
Select preliminary events (along with all event finals) will be open to the public.
First Summer X Games event in the USA since 2019 to be in-person attendance events open to the public.
The Tony Hawk's Vert Alert competition (taking place in Salt Lake City, UT on June 23–24, 2023) will serve as a qualifier for the skateboard vert competitions.
Peter Olenick landed the first double-flip (The Whiskey Flip) in halfpipe competition history, starting a revolution and setting a new standard in superpipe tricks.
Eero Ettala won the gold medal in Men's Snowboard Slopestyle. He reached the finals with a staggering 93.33 points. The runner-up, Eric Willett, reached only 86.33 points.
Kelly Clark landed the first 1080 by a woman in competition, in Women's Superpipe.
Torstein Horgmo landed the first triple cork in competition, in Men's Snowboard Big Air.
Shaun White became the first to four peat in Snowboard Superpipe in X Games history.
Sebastian Toutant wins gold as a rookie.
During the Snowmobile Best Trick, the brothers Colten and Caleb Moore successfully landed a two-man backflip but were disqualified because judges ruled the event as an individual sport. Daniel Bodin later took gold for the event.
Games dedicated to the renowned freestyle skier Sarah Burke, who died on January 19, 2012.
Shaun White won Snowboard Superpipe for the fifth year in a row all while posting a perfect 100 for the first time in the history of either the winter or summer X Games.
Heath Frisby landed the first-ever front flip of a snowmobile, in Snowmobile Best Trick.
2013: Winter X Games 17, Aspen, Colorado(January 24–27, 2013) Mark McMorris gets a 98.00 which is the highest score in men snowboard slope style event.
Tucker Hibbert became the first Winter X Games athlete to six-peat in any event with his sixth gold medal in Snowmobile SnoCross.
Shaun White won Snowboard Superpipe for the sixth year in a row and in the process shatters the height record out of a halfpipe with a 24'1" or 7.3m backside method air.
Elena Hight became the first snowboarder, male or female, to land a double backside alley-oop rodeo during a halfpipe competition.
The first triple corks were landed in the Ski Big Air competition. Henrik Harlaut earned a perfect score with his nose butter triple cork 1620.[22]
American snowmobiler Caleb Moore became the first X Games participant to die from injuries sustained at the event. He died on January 31, 2013, from complications of injuries suffered in a crash on January 24.[23]
2013: X Games Tignes, France
Iouri Podladtchikov lands the 1st cab double cork 1440 in Men's Snowboard Superpipe.
Two movies were filmed at the X Games. Ultimate X: The Movie was filmed at the 2001 X Games in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and X Games 3D: The Movie was filmed at the 2008 X Games and Winter X Games in Los Angeles, California and Aspen, Colorado.
In popular culture
In An Extremely Goofy Movie, the X Games play a key role in the plot. Max Goof participates in them with P.J. Pete and Robert “Bobby” Zimuruski while living at college.
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