The X Games honors its 30th anniversary this weekend in Salt Lake City, where vert ramps meet Vegas-style betting. After a blistering showcase in Osaka last weekend — when tricks evolved, younger riders broke through and 15-year-old Arisa Trew rewrote vert history — the Games return to U.S. soil.
Friday’s schedule offers an exciting variety of events, including Women’s Skateboard Park, BMX Dirt and Men’s Skateboard Vert. Here’s how you can catch all of the heart-stopping thrills.
How to watch X Games Salt Lake City: Day 1
Women’s Skateboard Park — Roku at 2 p.m.; ESPN2 from 7-9:30 p.m. MT
BMX Street — Roku at 3:45 p.m.; ESPN2 from 7-9:30 p.m. MT
BMX Dirt — Roku at 4:45 p.m.; ESPN2 from 7-9:30 p.m. MT
Men’s Skateboard Vert — Roku at 6:30 p.m.; ESPN2 from 7-9:30 p.m.
Moto X Best Trick — Roku and ESPN2 at 7:45 p.m.
Vert does not just open the X Games; it defines them. Before the 900, before mega ramps and before street skating’s rise, vert was the foundation. The format demands rhythm, control and amplitude across a full run. Think of it like a pitcher’s earned run average over a season rather than a single highlight.
Jimmy Wilkins won six vert golds from 2018 to 2023, but other contenders like Tom Schaar and 16-year-old Gui Khury are gaining ground. Mitchie Brusco and Osaka’s Moto Shibata return with distinct styles, and new riders are ready to shake up the podium, too.
Friday’s card stretches across surfaces and styles: BMX Street’s tight lines, BMX Dirt’s flow and Moto X Best Trick, where riders attempt death-defying stunts. Women’s Skateboard Park features a strong field with rising contenders, including 16-year-old Cocona Hiraki, who took gold in the event at X Games Japan 2023.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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