By Heather King
If you’re a sports enthusiast looking for the ultimate adrenaline rush, then the Winter X Games are the perfect event for you! This extreme winter sports event was created in 1997 and has been held annually ever since. The Winter X Games are the premier event in extreme sports, and they showcase the skills of the world’s most talented winter athletes. Let’s learn more about the history of the Winter X Games and highlight some of the most exciting actions featured in the event.
History of the Winter X Games
The Winter X Games were first held in 1997 in Big Bear Lake, California, and have grown in popularity ever since. The event was created by ESPN as a way to showcase extreme winter sports and the athletes who compete in them. The first Winter X Games showcased five different sports and have now become one of the most popular extreme sports events in the world. Since 2002, Aspen, Colorado, has been the home of X Games, and 2024 will be the 23rd consecutive year that X Games has been held at the town’s Buttermilk Resort.
X Games Aspen 2024
Athletes in the X Games Aspen 2024 will compete in 16 disciplines across ski and snowboard sports. Men’s and women’s divisions in Slopestyle, Big Air, SuperPipe, and Knuckle Huck will be featured January 26-28, 2024.
The Big Air competition is always a fan favorite and features a 300-foot-long course with a massive 75-foot hybrid jump. Skiers and snowboarders launch themselves into the air to perform incredible tricks and stunts. Their performance is judged on difficulty, height, and style, and is always thrilling to watch.
Slopestyle runs a 1,700-foot-long course with a verticle drop of 290 feet. Competitors are judged on amplitude, execution, difficulty, variety and landings, and use of the seven features (specially designed jumps, rails, boxes, and other obstacles) on the course.
Competitors who excel in SuperPipe link tricks from wall-to-wall on the 567-foot-long halfpipe. SuperPipe is judged on combinations, flow, difficulty, amplitude, and execution across the 66-foot-wide pipe with 22-foot vertical walls.
Of all the events at the Winter X Games, Knuckle Huck might be the most unfamiliar. The Knuckle Huck competition is held on the Big Air course, but it’s used differently. Unlike the other timed events at X Games, knuckle huck is more freestyle, and competitors utilize the deck, rollover (knuckle), and landing area to perform their maneuvers—requiring precision, technique, and creativity. Knuckle Huck is judged on originality, difficulty, creativity, style, and trajectory.
Watch for these Thrilling Moments
Several firsts for the Winter X Games are expected this year. Women will join men in individual medal events in both ski and snowboard Knuckle Huck competitions. This comes after snowboarder Jamie Anderson competed alongside the men in 2021.
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, the 21-year-old New Zealand snowboarder who took double gold last year when she landed back-to-back double corks, hopes to win double gold again.
Calling Utah home after attending high school in Park City, 24-year-old Alex Hall will attempt to medal in four skiing disciplines after taking home Big Air gold, Slopestyle bronze, and Knuckle Huck bronze last year.
It’s sure to be an action-packed event to wrap up in January.
Tune In to Winter X Games Aspen 2024
The ultimate thrill for winter sports enthusiasts, the Winter X Games Aspen showcases some of the world’s most talented and daring athletes as they push themselves to the limit. These events are not just about the competition but also about inspiring the next generation of winter sports athletes. The Winter X Games continue to evolve and grow, bringing new athletes and events to the forefront each year. So, if you’re looking for an action-packed event that will get your heart racing, pull up a seat at any of our neighborhood locations to watch this year’s Winter X Games from Aspen, Colorado
January 26-28.