What Is the X Games?

The X Games is the premier international action sports competition — a multi-sport event that has defined mainstream extreme sports culture since the mid-1990s. Broadcast globally and attended by thousands of fans, it remains the event every action sports athlete wants to win.

A Brief History

The X Games was created by ESPN and debuted in 1995 as the Extreme Games in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island. The concept was simple: gather the best athletes in fringe, high-adrenaline sports and give them a televised platform. The first event featured skateboarding, aggressive inline skating, BMX, street luge, bungee jumping, and more.

The name was shortened to X Games in 1996. A Winter X Games edition launched in 1997, adding snowboarding, skiing, and snowmobile events. Over the decades, the competition expanded internationally, with editions held in Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia at various points in its history.

Summer vs. Winter X Games

Summer X Games

The summer edition focuses on:

  • Skateboarding: Street, Park, Vert, Big Air, Mega Ramp
  • BMX: Street, Park, Vert, Big Air
  • Moto X: Best Trick, Step Up, Racing, Freestyle
  • Rally Car Racing

Winter X Games

The winter edition (traditionally held in Aspen, Colorado) features:

  • Snowboarding: Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Big Air, SuperPipe
  • Skiing: Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Big Air
  • Snowmobile: Speed & Style, Best Trick, Snocross
  • Adaptive events across multiple disciplines

The Medal Format

Like the Olympics, X Games awards gold, silver, and bronze medals. Athletes earn points in their respective disciplines across multiple rounds — qualifiers, semis, and finals. Judged events use panels of trained judges scoring on difficulty, execution, amplitude, and style. Racing events use head-to-head or timed formats.

X Games gold is widely considered the highest individual honor in most action sports disciplines — and in many cases, carries more cultural weight than a world championship title.

Iconic Moments That Defined the Event

The X Games has produced some of the most watched moments in action sports history. Key milestones include:

  • Tony Hawk landing the first documented 900 at the 1999 Summer X Games
  • Travis Pastrana's double backflip in Moto X Best Trick in 2006
  • Shaun White's back-to-back dominant runs in the snowboard SuperPipe through the 2000s and 2010s
  • Bob Burnquist's legendary Mega Ramp runs throughout the early 2000s

Why X Games Still Matters

With the Olympics now including skateboarding, BMX freestyle, and snowboard events, some have questioned whether X Games has lost relevance. The answer is no — for one key reason: culture. X Games was built from within the action sports community. Its judges understand the sports deeply, its format rewards creativity and risk-taking, and its audience speaks the language of the streets, parks, and mountains.

For athletes, an X Games medal is proof that the community itself has recognized your talent. That still means everything.

How to Watch

X Games events are broadcast on ESPN and ABC in the United States, with international streaming available through various platforms depending on your region. Check the official X Games website for the current season's schedule and broadcast details.