X-GAMES ... Anyone watching, or care? Or is this a youth thing?

[MetalSludgeCEO]

As a skater growing up, and seeing the sport evolve over 50 years, it's pretty mind boggling.

I have attended a few of the X-Games events and seeing the level of skill in person, is incredible.

Crazy to think... I recall in the early 80's when snowboarding was just starting / evolving, and the Ski Hills in Wisconsin banned ALL snowboarders.

But that changed quick, when the owners of these mountain resorts realized they were turning away a TON of customers all for the sake of some old geezer skiers who complained.

Same with skateboarding... a lot of skaters, BMX riders, etc... have always been looked at as rebels, and chased out of parks and harassed by security guards

But if 20 kids show up with a football, basketball, baseball, etc.., it's all good.

I was also happy to see some of these sports be added to the Olympics, and equally as interesting to see the old folks complaining: "That's not a real sport!"

Yeah... and how many kids grew up throwing a Javelin, Shot Put or jumping over Hurdles up and down their block as kids? Exactly ZERO!

Happy to see these (extreme) sports get some respect and coverage.

$tEvil

[MetalSludgeCEO]

Something else I have noticed in the skating culture, on-going... whether it was in the 70's, 80's, 90's or currently...

Skaters do NOT judge!

Doesn't matter your color, what language you speak, where you were born, or whatever your skill.

I have seen 300 pound fat kids rolling around, carving 2 feet up the transition, and the BEST skater there, is encouraging him all the way.

This is a very common thread in this world... there is no "I am better than you", or "He can't skate with us because he sucks"... if it does happen, it's rare!

$tEvil

[ParaDime77]

Watched some of the skateboarding this afternoon which is a always great. I couldn’t believe the size of the African American dude that was in the lineup. I’ve never seen a skater with that amount of muscle and shear weight. Normally, most dudes are 140lbs soaked and wet.

[Bono Nettencourt]

1997 called, it wants its games back.

[ParaDime77]

X games could be better off sold as an intellectual property to a streaming service or someone else that can completely reboot the concept. Now it’s just TV filler for a week in June, similar to bullshit filler television like Shark Week (Maybe discontinued?) on Discovery.

[eddie lee roth]

As a skater growing up, and seeing the sport evolve over 50 years, it's pretty mind boggling.

I have attended a few of the X-Games events and seeing the level of skill in person, is incredible.

Crazy to think... I recall in the early 80's when snowboarding was just starting / evolving, and the Ski Hills in Wisconsin banned ALL snowboarders.

But that changed quick, when the owners of these mountain resorts realized they were turning away a TON of customers all for the sake of some old geezer skiers who complained.

Same with skateboarding... a lot of skaters, BMX riders, etc... have always been looked at as rebels, and chased out of parks and harassed by security guards

But if 20 kids show up with a football, basketball, baseball, etc.., it's all good.

I was also happy to see some of these sports be added to the Olympics, and equally as interesting to see the old folks complaining: "That's not a real sport!"

Yeah... and how many kids grew up throwing a Javelin, Shot Put or jumping over Hurdles up and down their block as kids? Exactly ZERO!

Happy to see these (extreme) sports get some respect and coverage.

$tEvil

I watched some this weekend it was cool watching the BMX guys as that was my thing. You’re right it’s insane how much further these guys have taken things. Doesn’t seem like they’ve improved the tire though I saw several tires blowing up on impact. Not surprising I guess at those heights.

[Lobo]

The X Games were actually kinda awesome in the 90's. It was the only place you'd get to see the best compete against the best when it came to skateboarding, bmx, etc.

Now, all that shit is in the Olympics and nobody really seems to care about any of these sports as much. They kinda lost their edge.

The corporate Olympics swallowed up all the X Games sports. What was cool and rebellious became the norm.

The X Games are the grunge of the sports world. Once anti-establishment...now a part of it.

[Metal Sludge]

Something else I have noticed in the skating culture, on-going... whether it was in the 70's, 80's, 90's or currently...

Skaters do NOT judge!

Doesn't matter your color, what language you speak, where you were born, or whatever your skill.

I have seen 300 pound fat kids rolling around, carving 2 feet up the transition, and the BEST skater there, is encouraging him all the way.

This is a very common thread in this world... there is no "I am better than you", or "He can't skate with us because he sucks"... if it does happen, it's rare!

$tEvil

This is absolutely true!
Skaters do not judge. They encourage everyone. They teach the little ones, they donate whatever they can, they give back.
When Victoria was young, 11, 12, 13, it was not unusual for me to wake up to 3 kids I didn't know, sleeping on my living room floor. Boards lined up by the front door. it was always cool though.

[Aerosmith87]

I caught some, but competitions don't hold my attention. I still loosely follow the videos, and keep my Thrasher subscription. Good stuff overall, but X-Games are meh to me. If it was in person, I'm sure I'd be blown away though. I think you need to step on a skateboard to fully grasp what these people are capable and how crazy it is.