The X Games
Quick Answer
The X Games is an annual extreme sports event organized by ESPN, first held in 1995 in Newport, Rhode Island. The event showcases elite athletes in disciplines including skateboarding, BMX, skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling, with both summer and winter editions.
- Founded in 1995 by ESPN, the X Games is the premier extreme sports competition featuring summer and winter editions
- The Winter X Games began in 1997 and has been held annually in locations like Aspen, Colorado, drawing tens of thousands of spectators
- X Games Aspen 2026 featured 18 events across skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling disciplines
The X Games is a yearly sports event, controlled and managed by the American sports broadcasting channel, ESPN, which focuses on extreme sports. The first X Games were held in 1995 in Newport, Rhode Island. Held simultaneously to the X Games is the X Fest which is a sports and music festival that offers live music, autograph sessions and interactive elements.
freestyle BMXThe X Games gained big media exposures due to their big sponsors, top-tier athletes and regular sports fan attendance.
"The X Games has been instrumental in bringing extreme sports into the mainstream. Since 1995, it has provided a global platform for athletes who push the boundaries of what is physically possible in action sports."— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports
The X Games frequently features new tricks like Tony Hawk’s 900 in skateboarding, Travis Pastrana’s double backflip in freestyle motocross, Heath Frisby’s first-ever snowmobile front flip in Snowmobile Best Trick and Torstein Horgmo’s first landed triple flip in a snowboard competition.
Did You Know?
The first Winter X Games in 1997 attracted over 38,000 spectators to the four-day event at Mountain Resort in Big Bear Lake, California.
View Events Calendar →X Games Minneapolis 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Winter X Games
The Winter X Games was inaugurated in 1997 with over 38,000 viewers that attended the four-day event. It was held at Mountain Resort in Big Bear Lake, California. It is usually held in January or February. The Winter X Games is for winter sports athletes from around the world battling on an annual basis. Events include skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling. In 1998, the attendance of the Games dropped to 25,000 viewers and after two years, 83,500 people attended the Winter X Games’ East Coast introduction.
"The Winter X Games draws elite athletes from around the world to compete in some of the most technically demanding winter sports disciplines. The event has been a proving ground for innovations in skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling since 1997."— According to sports science expert Robert Wood, who has analyzed sports performance data for over 25 years
X Games Growth
After an initial dip to 25,000 viewers in 1998, the Winter X Games rebounded dramatically with 83,500 attendees for its East Coast debut.
X Games Chongli 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
X Games Aspen 2026 Results
Here are all the results of the events at the X Games in Aspen 2026:
Pro Tip: The X Games are typically broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage available through the ESPN app and X Games social media channels. Check local listings for event schedules and time zones.
Stake Men's Ski Big Air Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Mac Forehand |
| 2nd | Luca Harrington |
| 3rd | Dylan Deschamps |
Stake Women's Ski Big Air Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Mathilde Gremaud |
| 2nd | Kirsty Muir |
| 3rd | Megan Oldham |
Men's Ski Knuckle Huck Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Alex Hall |
| 2nd | Colby Stevenson |
| 3rd | Tormod Frostad |
Women's Ski Knuckle Huck Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Marin Hamill |
| 2nd | Alais Develay |
| 3rd | Anni Karava |
Jeep Men's Ski Slopestyle Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Luca Harrington |
| 2nd | Colby Stevenson |
| 3rd | Alex Hall |
Jeep Women's Ski Slopestyle Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Kirsty Muir |
| 2nd | Naomi Urness |
| 3rd | Mathilde Gremaud |
Monster Energy Men's Ski SuperPipe Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Finley Melville Ives |
| 2nd | Nick Goepper |
| 3rd | Alex Ferreira |
Monster Energy Women's Ski SuperPipe Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Zoe Atkin |
| 2nd | Indra Brown |
| 3rd | Cassie Sharpe |
Stake Men's Snowboard Big Air Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Hiroto Ogiwara |
| 2nd | Rocco Jamieson |
| 3rd | Kira Kimura |
Stake Women's Snowboard Big Air Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Cocomo Murase |
| 2nd | Zoi Sadowski-Synnott |
| 3rd | Mia Brookes |
Men's Snowboard Knuckle Huck Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Rene Rinnekangas |
| 2nd | Halldor Helgason |
| 3rd | Marcus Kleveland |
Women's Snowboard Knuckle Huck Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Jessica Perlmutter |
| 2nd | Cocomo Murase |
| 3rd | Jasmine Baird |
Jeep Men's Snowboard Slopestyle Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Mark McMorris |
| 2nd | Marcus Kleveland |
| 3rd | Red Gerard |
Jeep Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Mia Brookes |
| 2nd | Zoi Sadowski-Synnott |
| 3rd | Cocomo Murase |
Monster Energy Men's Snowboard SuperPipe Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Scotty James |
| 2nd | Haku Shimasaki |
| 3rd | Shuichiro Shigeno |
Monster Energy Women's Snowboard SuperPipe Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Sara Shimizu |
| 2nd | Rise Kudo |
| 3rd | Queralt Castellet |
Snowmobile Freestyle Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Brett Turcotte |
| 2nd | Cody Matechuk |
| 3rd | Willie Elam |
Snowmobile Speed & Style Podium
| Position | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1st | Willie Elam |
| 2nd | Brett Turcotte |
| 3rd | Cody Matechuk |
"The depth of international talent at X Games Aspen 2026 reflects the growing global reach of extreme sports, with podium finishers representing countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania."— Data compiled by Robert Wood, PhD, shows
Explore More Events
Discover other major international multi-sport events and their histories, schedules, and results.
Multi-Sport Events →Frequently Asked Questions
When did the X Games start?
The X Games were first held in 1995 in Newport, Rhode Island, organized by ESPN. The event was created to showcase extreme sports and quickly gained a large following due to high-profile sponsors and world-class athletes.
What sports are featured at the Winter X Games?
The Winter X Games features skiing (big air, slopestyle, superpipe, knuckle huck), snowboarding (big air, slopestyle, superpipe, knuckle huck), and snowmobiling (freestyle and speed & style). Athletes compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals.
Where are the X Games held?
The X Games have been held at various locations over the years. The Winter X Games has been held primarily in Aspen, Colorado in recent years. The Summer X Games has been hosted in cities including Minneapolis, Austin, and Los Angeles.
What are some of the most famous X Games moments?
Iconic X Games moments include Tony Hawk landing the first 900 in skateboarding, Travis Pastrana performing a double backflip in freestyle motocross, Heath Frisby completing the first snowmobile front flip, and Torstein Horgmo landing the first triple flip in snowboard competition.
What is the X Fest?
The X Fest is a sports and music festival held simultaneously with the X Games. It features live music performances, athlete autograph sessions, and interactive elements for fans attending the events.
How many events were at X Games Aspen 2026?
X Games Aspen 2026 featured 18 competitive events across three disciplines: skiing (8 events including big air, knuckle huck, slopestyle, and superpipe for both men and women), snowboarding (8 events in the same categories), and snowmobiling (2 events: freestyle and speed & style).
References
- ESPN. "X Games." ESPN Extreme Sports. espn.com/xgames.
- X Games. (2026). "X Games Aspen 2026 Official Results." X Games Media Center.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. "X Games." Britannica.com.
- Wood, R.J. "Multi-Sport Events Guide." Topend Sports, www.topendsports.com/events/games/.
- Higgins, M. (2005). "All Terrain: At the X Games, Gravity is for Beginners." The New York Times.
- Thorpe, H. (2011). Snowboarding Bodies in Theory and Practice. Palgrave Macmillan.
- International Olympic Committee. "Extreme Sports and the Olympic Movement." IOC Publications.
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