1. Summer X Games
The X Games, where the "X" stands for extreme, began in 1995, strictly as a summer event with the primary sports being skateboarding, inline skating, bungee jumping, biking and water sports. It was the brainchild of ESPN, which saw the changing landscape in sports and the rising popularity of non-traditional sports outside the mainstream. Since the initial lineup, what came to be known as the summer X Games has expanded to include many other sports and events, such surfing, motocross, skateboarding, BMX and others.
2. Winter X Games
In 1997, the first Winter X Games had the following sports on the initial docket: snowboarding, ice mountain bike racing, shovel racing and multi-sport crossover events. From there, it has evolved into the most popular singular snow sports event outside of the winter Olympics. The sports categories now include extreme skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and ice motocross, among other events included in each category.
3. You Got to Be in It to Win It
To qualify for the X Games, first you need to get sponsorship from someone or a company willing to pay your way on the winter or summer qualifying tour. Sponsorship alone will not guarantee an opportunity. You also must join a local chapter of the sport in which you wish to compete. You must prove that in addition to financial backing, you have sufficient skill in the sport. Following local entrance and qualifying at the local level, you may get an opportunity to vie for a spot on the qualifying tour. Once on the qualifying X Games tour, a person must place high enough in competition to get an invitation to the winter or summer X Games.
4. Olympic Connections
Having such a visible platform, the X Games provided enough credibility that the extreme events of snowboard pipe, BMX cycling, boardercross and skiercross, among others, are now Olympic events. With more X Games events sure to come to an Olympic venue in the near future.
5. Worldwide X Games
The X Games have now become a worldwide event with events in China, United Arab Emirates and Brazil, along with many other exotic locales. This expansion has resulted in the Asian, Latin and Dubai X Games. Therefore, you don't have to live in America to compete in the games or to watch any of these incredible stunts and competitions live.
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