From July 20-24, X Games 2022 will host BMX, Skateboard and Moto X competitions at three unique athlete training facilities in Southern California. Monster Energy, the official energy drink partner of X Games, is ready to bring the stoke with its team of top athletes and multiple X Games gold medalists to this history-making sports spectacle.
CORONA, Calif., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The biggest showcase in action sports is officially back! From July 20-24, X Games 2022 will host BMX, Skateboard and Moto X competitions at three unique athlete training facilities in Southern California. Monster Energy, the official energy drink partner of X Games, is ready to bring the stoke with its team of top athletes and multiple X Games gold medalists to this history-making sports spectacle.
The 65th edition of X Games will be closed to the public with no spectators in attendance. Medal events will be contested at three unique athlete training facilities around Southern California and broadcast live to global audiences.
Fans can look forward to witnessing action sports history written by the world elite in all three sports: More than 110 athletes from 14 countries will compete for a total of 57 medals across 19 medal disciplines. Next to 18 live events, X Games 2022 will also crown medalists in the Skateboard Real Street Best Trick contest at an undisclosed street spot.
Two Monster Energy athletes are opening their private training facilities as competition sites: On July 20, five-time X Games gold medalist Elliot Sloan will host Skateboard Vert competitions and debut the first MegaPark ramp at X Games in his "Sloanyard". On July 21, Axell Hodges' legendary "Slayground" compound will once again showcase Moto X competitions, plus BMX Dirt. And from July 22-24, the California Training Facility (CATF) will feature Skateboard and BMX competitions in Street as well as Park disciplines.
Over the course of five action-packed days, more than 15 hours of the best X Games 2022 competitions will air on ESPN, ABC and ESPN2, as well as ESPN+ and the ESPN App. All competitions will stream live on ESPN+ and be available on @XGames YouTube. X Games content will also be presented across the globe through international syndication partners.
X Games 2022 is once again contested as an invite-only event and reserved for multiple-time X Games medalists and highly competitive newcomers. As the official drink sponsor of X Games 2022, Monster Energy is looking forward to raising the bar with a heavy-hitting team of athletes and defending gold medalists in these key events:
X Games 2022 will officially kick off on Wednesday in Vista, California, at the "Sloanyard" created by 13-time X Games medalist Elliot Sloan. Expect massive airs and technical liptricks when the international elite of halfpipe skateboarding descends on the massive vert ramp for Skateboard Vert and Vert Best Trick competitions. Keep an eye out for the host with the most, Elliot Sloan, who already claimed silver in both comps at X Games 2021 and has his eyes on the gold. He will be facing heat from Japanese style icon Moto Shibata, fresh off a silver-medal finish at X Games Chiba 2022.
For something completely unprecedented, the action will move to the first and only MegaPark ramp in X Games history for the BMX MegaPark event. Taking on the massive course with a centerpiece gap jump and vert quarterpipe will be no other than Monster Energy's Pat Casey ready to add to his four X Games medals. Also putting on their big ramp boots, Andy Buckworth, Daniel Sandoval, and Bryce Tryon are ready to send it in the new discipline.
Rounding out an epic day at the Sloanyard, the Skateboard MegaPark contest will push the boundaries of trick innovation to the next level. Prepare for Sloan to prove why he owns four X Games gold medals from Big Air competitions on MegaRamps. He will be joined by certified big ramp talent Tom Schaar hungry for a podium spot after closely missing the top three at X Games 2021. And don't count out Monster Energy's Trey Wood, who previously earned his X Games gold and two bronze medals in Skateboard Big Air.
On Thursday, July 21, the roar of dirt bike engines will reverberate over Axell Hodges' legendary "Slayground" compound in Ramona, California. The world elite of freestyle motocross will battle for medals on the facility's steep turns, quarterpipes, kicker ramps, wallrides, manual pads and massive dirt jumps.
Starting things off, the Moto X Freestyle contest will feature last year's silver medalist and Monster Energy rider Josh Sheehan looking to bolster his count of 12 X Games medals. His competition includes fellow Australian Jackson Strong, who owns six X Games gold medals from Best Trick but has yet to claim a win in the Freestyle event. Also watch out for Australia's Harry Bink after claiming his first X Games medal in 2021 as well as host Axell Hodges and motocross legend Taka Higashino from Japan. For the ultimate wildcard, pay attention to young gun Ben Richards from Wagga Wagga, Australia, in his second appearance at X Games.
Next, riders will send their most contorted aerials, also known as 'whips', across the massive dirt jump at Slayground. With three medals from Moto X Best Whip under his belt, host Axell Hodges is the rider to watch. Then again, his Monster teammate Jarryd McNeil from Yarrawonga, Australia, already holds five gold medals in Best Whip. For the ultimate showdown, Japanese ripper and 2021 Best Whip silver medalist Genki Watanabe will throw down alongside Josh Sheehan. Plus, don't count out Monster Energy team rider Julien Vanstippen from Ophain, Belgium, fresh off a Best Whip bronze from X Games Chiba 2022.
Just in time for X Games 2022, the Slayground has been updated with a competition-grade BMX Dirt course. The big question in the event: Will team Monster Energy repeat last year's full podium sweep courtesy of Pat Casey (gold), Bryce Tryon (silver), and Ben Wallace (bronze)? Not if team rider Daniel Sandoval has a word, especially after just claiming the overall series win in the 2022 Monster Energy BMX Triple Challenge. What's more, this could be the year for Canadian rider Mike Varga to add his first BMX Dirt medal to his record.
Switching gears back to motorized competitions, the fun and innovation-centered Moto X 110's discipline on smaller bikes makes a return to X Games. Prepare for a wild ride as last year's gold medalist Axell Hodges flexes his freestyle skills against Jarryd McNeil and BMXer Pat Casey.
For a change of pace, the Moto X Best Trick is all about big and innovative tricks. And six-time X Games gold medalist Jackson Strong comes to the Slayground with something new up his sleeve. "Jacko" will battle teammate Josh Sheehan, who owns five medals from Best Trick but has yet to take home the gold. Speaking of medals, Harry Bink took home bronze in the discipline at X Games 2021 and comes back hungry for more.
Closing out a spectacular showcase at Slayground, Moto X QuarterPipe High Air will feature a stacked roster. Last year, Axell Hodges earned silver and already owns gold in the event from X Games Minneapolis 2018. The owner of the Slayground will face competition from Jarryd McNeil, who has cracked into the top five in the event but has yet to claim a podium spot. Will this be the one?
On Friday, a weekend of BMX and Skateboard action kicks off at the high-tech California Training Facility (CATF) in Vista. As the training center for Team USA, the facility features both full-sized concrete Street and Park courses created by the designers of X Games Street and Park courses.
As the day's only competition event, BMX Street features the world elite of street riding. Athletes to watch include last year's silver medalist and Monster Energy rider Felix Prangenberg, who already owns three X Games medals (1 gold, 2 silver) and has his eyes on the top spot. His competition includes the bronze medalist from X Games 2021, BMX whiz kid Alex Donnachie from Scotland. Also brace yourself for Australian team rider Lewis Mills looking to improve on silver from Sydney 2018, while Kevin Peraza is set on claiming his first-ever Street medal.
Saturday features a busy schedule of events, with Women's Skateboard Park kicking things off at the CATF. Monster Energy heads into the event with the ultimate mix of skate icon and young talent: At X Games 2021, young ripper Mami Tezuka from Hikone Shiga, Japan, earned her first medal with silver and recently followed suit by claiming bronze at X Games Chiba 2022. She will be dropping in alongside innovator and long-time Monster Energy rider Lizzie Armanto ready to return after earning bronze in her most recent outing at X Games 2019 in Minneapolis.
When the action moves into BMX Park, keep an eye on Monster Energy team rider Justin Dowell from Virginia Beach, who caused an upset by claiming silver in his debut at X Games Chiba 2022. Of course, never count out the Monster Energy trip responsible for sweeping the podium at X Games 2021: Kevin Peraza (gold), Pat Casey (silver), and Mike Varga (bronze). Plus, with the addition of previous BMX Park gold medalist Daniel Sandoval and 2019's bronze medalist Jose Torres from Argentina to the mix, the pieces are in place for a history-making event.
Speaking of making history, the Men's Skateboard Street contest will mark the return to X Games competition of the most winning street skater on the circuit: Monster Energy's Nyjah Huston owns 19 X Games medals (13 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze) and is ready to expand his legacy after last competing at X Games Minneapolis 2019. His competitors include Olympic silver medalist and two-time X Games gold medalist Kelvin Hoefler from São Paulo. Plus, although Ishod Wair from Bordentown, New Jersey, is not necessarily known as a contest skater, he does own X Games gold in the discipline and took home bronze at X Games 2021. Don't miss it and stay tuned when these riders send it in Skateboard Street Best Trick!
On that note, a big day at the CATF will conclude with the Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick contest. Prepare for trick innovations galore as last year's gold medalist Mike Varga holds it down against Pat Casey and Daniel Sandoval, the latter having claimed silver at X Games 2019. Also watch for young gun and Monster Army graduate Jeremy Malott, who claimed bronze in the event at X Games 2021.
On Sunday, it's all about all skateboarding, all day at X Games 2022. The highly anticipated Women's Skateboard Street final will revolve around 14-year-old Rayssa Leal from Imperatriz, Brazil, after claiming the gold medal at X Games Chiba 2022 and earning silver in the Tokyo Olympics. Leal will revisit her rivalry with Japanese team rider and five-time X Games medalist Aori Nishimura from Tokyo, who took gold at X Games 2019. A must-see battle in the making!
Closing out an epic weekend at the CATF, the Men's Skateboard Park contest has all the elements of a true classic. That's because last year's surprise winner and Monster Energy rider Liam Pace from Tucson, Arizona, is currently on a roll after taking first place at Simple Session 2022. He will face heat from 18-year-old Kieran Woolley from Minnamurra, Australia, fresh off taking silver at X Games Chiba 2022. Also don't miss the return of eight-time X Games medalist Tom Schaar to the Park event and the all-terrain skills of Brazilian team rider Luiz Francisco.
One more thing: X Games 2022 will also mark the first real-life Skateboard Real Street Best Trick contest. Broadcast live via video stream, the 30-minute jam session features elite street skaters at an undisclosed legendary street skate spot in Southern California. Joining the contest, watch out for Monster Energy riders Nyjah Huston, Kelvin Hoefler, and young Japanese upstart Daiki Ikeda from Tokyo, who claimed silver at X Games Chiba 2022. Also look forward to banging tricks from last year's Real Street silver medalist Matt Berger from Canada. The competition will be released in its entirety during the ABC broadcast on July 24. Find more info here.
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Visit http://www.monsterenergy.com for exclusive updates from X Games 2022 including photos, videos, and contest results as they happen. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
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About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at http://www.monsterenergy.com.
About X Games
For more than 25 years, X Games has successfully organized action sports events in 12 countries around the globe, attracting more than six million attendees. Since its inception in 1995, the X Games have become the leading action sports competition and lifestyle brand, spotlighting the world's best action sports athletes in BMX, Skateboard and Moto X at the X Games, and Ski and Snowboard at the winter version of the X Games against the backdrop of each individual host city. Learn more at http://www.xgames.com.
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