Thats right action fans, X games is back, in fact the prelims have already started. The bad news – our pedantic, boring, SA tv channels are not showing it anymore. The good news – You can watch every event on Youtube for free. Below I have put together a list of some of the major broadcasts coming up and I will update this post as new ones become available.
Skateboard Live
Here are the skate events:
BMX Live
Here are the BMX events:
Thats Day 1 – More to come
So there you have the opening action from X Games 2019. Be sure to subscribe to my page and the X Games Youtube page for more. Big shout out to Monster Energy for their support of all action sports, including X Games.
As long as I have surfed, the North Shore has been the dream destination for any surfer. At the pinnacle of that dream is the a frame reef at Pipeline and Backdoor. Straddling the sands of this two wave dream is the legendary, Volcom House.
The Volcom team spend each winter here, right on the beach in front of the proving ground. They also have some of most hardened locals at Pipe and Backdoor. So, when they decide to drop an edit from the North Shore season, you know its going to be good.
At Pipeline there is flora, fauna, ocean and stone. At this point, the Volcom house is practically part of the reef at Pipeline. Between the team, the house, the family, the legacy, the legends, the peanut gallery, the respect, the parties, the Pipe Pro and the barbecues, you’d be hard pressed not to acknowledge the presence the Volcom Stone has on the North Shore, particularly at Pipe. I mean, one of the houses was built by the one and only Gerry Lopez!
Watch the Volcom Video
So sit back, try to relax and watch the team charging some rather spectacular waves.
Daryl sending it over the big kicker! Photo: Eric Palmer
Dirt Jump Nirvana
Ok, so maybe its not Dirt Jump nirvana for us mere mortals, but for the crew of A List riders at DarkFEST it sure was. Many were calling it the biggest line ever built and for those who came to watch the open sessions, they witnessed history. Clemens, Nico and Sam really pulled out all the stops on the setup and I am pretty sure we are going to see even bigger things come 2020.
Loco Double Backflip Adolf Silva
The Fan favourite at any event he goes to for good reason. Adolf was hunting the double backflips. He made one on the giant kicker and he was oh so close to landing one on the 90ft gap. He rides so wild that even his fellow riders sometimes cant believe how he pulls off some saves. One of the leaders of free ride now and a huge part of Darkfest. Not to hard to see why Monster Energy put him straight on the team.
Watch the Highlights Video
If you did not make it down to Vuurberg for the open sessions, shame! But never fear, the highlights video is here and you too can marvel at the Dirt Jump mayhem that was, DarkFEST. The world’s best were in action, with the likes of Nico Vink, Tom van Steenbergen, Adolf Silva, Brendan Fairclough, Ethan Nell, Nicholi Rogatkin, Jordie Lunn, Graham Agassis, Matt Macduff, Tom Reynolds, Darryl Brown, Theo Erlangsen and Kurt Sorge.
Darryl Brown testing the big jump. Photo: Eric Palmer
Stellenbosch sees the return of DarkFEST
Friday 8 February and Saturday 9 February will see the return of DarkFEST to Vuurberg Wines, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch, and for those two full days the boys are going to cut loose! Sam Reynolds might be out of the competition, but it it still going to rock out over the weekend, as only DarkFEST can.
What is it? The biggest mountain biking dirt jump event in Africa.
Where is it? Vuurberg Wines, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch.
When? Friday 8 and Saturday 9 February. Action starts at 9 am, and continues until 6 pm.
The local kid, Ike, testing the not small step up. Photo: Eric Palmer
Who? There are a crew of local and international riders, including Nico Vink, Tom van Steenbergen, Adolf Silva, Brendan Fairclough, Ethan Nell, Nicholi Rogatkin, Jordie Lunn, Graham Agassis, Matt Macduff, Tom Reynolds, Darryl Brown, Theo Erlangsen and Kurt Sorge, amongst others. Local legend Sam Reynolds unfortunately injured himself on a recent practice run, and is out of the event.
From the start XGames has been all about pushing the boundaries of action sports in a competition format. This year, watching the main events, live for once thanks to the Youtube broadcasts, I was once again blown away by the level of riding across the event. Hands down my favourite event was the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle, where Mark McMorris once again came from way down the field to post an insane last run and win his 8th Gold Medal. (See the full Slopestyle broadcast below.)
Day 1 Monster Energy Highlights
The action officially kicked off at X Games Aspen 2019 with Monster Energy athletes bringing home some new hardware! Cassie Sharpe – Women’s Ski SuperPipe, GOLD, David Wise – Men’s Ski SuperPipe, SILVER and Jamie Anderson competing in the Women’s Snowboard Big Air.
Day 2 Monster Energy Highlights
Winter X Games Aspen Day 2 was one for the books! The Monster Energy team went nuts, with Maggie Voisin – Women’s Ski Slopestyle, BRONZE, Sarah Hoefflin – Women’s Ski Slopestyle, SILVER, Casey Currie- Jeep, GOLD, Brett Turcotte – Snowmobile Freestyle, SILVER and the stand out of the day, Sven Thorgren – Men’s Snowboard Big Air, BRONZE.
Day 3 Monster Energy Highlights
Another day packed full of action at Winter X Games Aspen 2019 with Monster Energy athletes going big and landing themselves at the top! Rene Rinnekangas – Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle, SILVER, Doug Henry – Para Snow BikeCross, GOLD, Cody Matechuk – Snow BikeCross – GOLD, Alex Beaulieu-Merchand – Men’s Ski Big Air, SILVER, Men’s Ski Big Air – James Woods, BRONZE and Chloe Kim – Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe, GOLD.
Day 4 Monster Energy Highlights
The fourth and final day at Winter X Games Aspen 2019 went out in style!
Watch the full broadcasts of my Favourite Events
All the action was red hot, but there were a few that stood out! Here are my favourites for you to watch.
Mick Fanning and a gang of Epoxy boards star in the new, Stab in the Dark.
Stab in the Dark returns!
The newly “retired” Mick Fanning stars in the latest edition of Stab in the Dark. The incredible concept, by Stab Magazine, takes one of the world’s best surfers and pairs them with unbranded surfboards from some of the world’s best shapers. This year, the shapers had to use some combination of stringerless EPS blanks, carbon fiber, and epoxy resin. Mick reckons he never surfs epoxy boards, so I am excited to see what happens.
Location, location, location
The locations are pretty hazy, though it is clear that Japan is certainly one of them. Some good looking waves in the teaser, though Mick is quite capable of making crap waves looks exceptional. It appears they got stuck in a huge typhoon too, which could make for incredible waves post storm. Previous editions of Stab in the Dark have scored really good waves, so holding thumbs for this one.
The World’s Best have taken part
Previous editions have featured some of the world’s best, such as Jordy Smith, Dane Reynolds and Julian Wilson. One of my favourite moments was when Jordy loved a board shaped by his old man, unknowingly, the now famous 44. (A board I have and love.) That is what makes the concept so cool, that they only find out who shaped which board right at the end. So enjoy the teaser…
What better way to start 2019 than with the latest dirt fest with Axell Hodges. Slay Hodges and friends head to Ocotillo Wells during a brutal winter storm and tear it up on their desert toys – aka DESERTED.
Monster Energy take Axell and his team of nutters deep into the dirt, where he charges as per usual.
Massive Jumps
In a place where most are sticking to the small jumps, Axell goes large. One particular jump is over 90ft and he manages to smash both his rims. Twitch cant believe this as he broke his leg at Ocotillo the last time he rode there. Axell just laughs it off. There are also a couple of great whips by the king of the move.
Enjoy the video!
Monster Energy always bring the MX heat, so here is your first video of 2019, Deserted with Axell Hodges. I hope you enjoy it!
