On Wednesday, X Games announced a new initiative, Spotlight Events, aimed at expanding its competition lineup, with two new events set to debut during this month’s X Games League Championship in New Orleans.
Spotlight Events are designed to give emerging action sports disciplines an opportunity to be featured on the X Games stage. Events that generate strong interest from fans could become permanent fixtures on the X Games League (XGL) competition program.
Currently, the only disciplines included in X Games League are skateboarding and BMX (summer) and skiing and snowboarding (winter). Moto X events have been part of this summer’s X Games events but have not counted toward league standings.
The first Spotlight Events will take place at Caesars Superdome, with Scooter Park Best Trick scheduled for July 24, followed by Men’s Skateboard Park Best Trick on July 25. Both competitions are making their X Games debut.
The initiative is intended to let fan response help determine which events continue beyond their debut, says X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom.
“Progression has always been the heartbeat of X Games,” Bloom said. “Spotlight Events are our way of testing what’s next.”
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The scooter competition will feature individual tricks in a winner-take-all format, highlighting a discipline that has continued to grow internationally but has not previously been included in the X Games program.
Freestyle scooter rider Ryan Williams, who has won 16 X Games medals in BMX but also pushed the limits of freestyle scooter through venues like Nitro Circus, said the addition reflects the progression of the sport.
“Scooter has reached an unbelievable level, and the tricks being done today deserve a stage like X Games,” Williams said.
The Men’s Skateboard Park Best Trick event will focus on single tricks rather than traditional scored runs. Skateboard Vert Best Trick, in both the men’s and women’s categories, is already on the X Games program.
The riders pushing the limits in skateboard park on the men’s side include veteran Tom Schaar, rookie Egoitz Bijueska, rising star Gavin Bottger and Olympic gold medalist and five-time X Games medalist Keegan Palmer.
Palmer, who despite his accolades is an XGL free agent this season after he was not one of 40 athletes drafted this past March, said the format creates opportunities for athletes to attempt tricks that push the limits of the discipline.
“The best part of skateboarding is chasing tricks that seem impossible,” Palmer said. “Park Best Trick creates another stage for those moments.”
Though a Women’s Skateboard Park Best Trick event will not be held in New Orleans, there’s no question the women’s level supports it. Aussie teen Arisa Trew leads the way; at X Games Sacramento last month, she became the first skater—male or female—to land a switch McTwist in park competition.
The Spotlight Events will be part of the inaugural X Games League Championship, the culmination of the first season of the new team-based X Games League. Heading into New Orleans, XC Tokyo and XC New York are tied atop the league standings.
Spotlight Events will potentially open the door for fan-favorite disciplines to join the official league program.
“What happens after New Orleans is up to our fans,” said Bloom, who encouraged fans to be vocal about which disciplines they’d like to see added to XGL competition.
Coverage of the X Games League Championship on July 24–26 will air on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, alongside streaming on the ESPN App and international digital platforms.
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