When it comes to winter sports, I hit my peak around 11 or 12 years of age—whichever one had the year with the extensive snowstorms in my childhood neighborhood. I believe this was the year where the sledding hills were always coated with slick, packed-down snow. Whatever year that was, the very next year I crashed, hard, bit through my lip and spent a good hour laying out in the snow with the wind knocked out of me.
From then on it was learning to drive on icy winter roads and doing that weird shuffle-walk thing across slippery sidewalks. Although I grew up in Colorado, I completely missed the whole “downhill skiing” thing that all of my friends liked to talk about. Nowadays, I have to be careful to stretch and use proper form while shoveling snow, lest I throw my back out (again) from it.
This is all to say that I have a weird mix of feelings about the Winter X Games (taking place in Aspen, Colorado from January 24th to 27th this year). On the one hand, Aspen holds the kind of rural mountain landscape that is ideal for winter events. Ski runs tower over villages of condos and residences that feature hot tubs on redwood decks that look out over endless mountain vistas.
In short, you should go to the X Games. After all, sport spectating is free, open to the public, with events taking place each day. In the afternoons and evenings, you can pick up tickets for the coveted music performances (this year’s features: Kygo, Chainsmokers, and Lil’Wayne) or take to any of the world-class restaurants that line the main streets of Aspen.
Or, you could watch it at home, on your TV, where you can keep warm and cozy on your couch. Most of the events will air on ESPN and ABC.
Why else should anyone care about this event? For starters, it’s an excellent way to get ready for the Winter Olympics. Even if you aren’t competing (and why aren’t you?), the popularity of many of the less-than-mainstream events showcased at the X Games have made their way to the international stage. Many of the 2018 Winter Olympic Medalists performed at the 2017 X Games events—including Summit County’s Red Gerard and everyone’s favorite tomato, Shaun White.
The unique nature of the X Games events draws a significant amount of appeal. It’s more than just downhill skiing or ski jumps. The events of Slopestyle, half-pipe, and even uphill racing add a more dynamic and grueling element that requires equal parts finesse and cojones to compete.
Here are a few of the main events to keep an eye out for.
Slopestyle
Done on either skis or a snowboard, the Slopestyle pits athletes against a terrain park that features rails, jumps, and other obstacles. The goal is to rack up as many points through executing and completing a variety of tricks including spins, grabs, grinds, and flips. All of which need to be landed perfectly—which means faceplants and wipeouts are not encouraged.
Snowbike Motocross
If a snowmobile feels too tame, it might be worth checking out the Snowbike. Imagine a motocross bike outfitted with snow treads and skis to improve traction and agility in the snow. Racing at upwards of 35 miles an hour through a course of jumps, turns, and straightaways, Snowbike Motocross athletes take all the risks of a dirtbike course with the added thrill of everything slipping away at any moment.
Big Air
When it comes to Big Air, athletes have one thing in mind: do as much as you can with the biggest air possible. A grander ambition than the ski long jump—which is all about aerodynamics and weight distribution. Big Air sends athletes down a slope to a single jump, where they use the lift from the jump to execute as many twists and turns as possible before landing. The landing is the hardest part and must be completed if any points are awarded. Big Air is also the leading cause of bruised behinds in the competition; some real shiners are awarded here.
Superpipe
The halfpipes of your youth were probably only 18 feet tall. The Superpipe features 22-foot tall walls and can be anywhere from 400-600 feet in length—leaving lots of room to do all kinds of showboating. Done with either skis or snowboards, the Superpipe is a landmark event of the X games and has launched, literally and figuratively, some of the largest names in the sport to stardom.
Harley Davidson Hill Climb challenge
Hey, here’s something new from last year’s games. Harley Davidson, the motorcycle folks, is sponsoring an event that works in exact opposition to the idea of snow sports. Instead of relying on the lack of friction and the excess of gravity to get one to the bottom of the hill, the Hill Climb Challenge takes you uphill on a modified bike. Raced in heats, the first rider to make it up the length of the Superpipe first grabs the win.
Other things to note
Neither Aspen nor the X Games will be hosting any tailgating or camping facilities, so be sure to call and plan ahead if you’re looking to spend the weekend in the area. Hotels will be at a premium, and the roads will be everything one expects out of Colorado Mountain Byways in the dead of January.
Buttermilk ski slopes – where the X Games are held – is a little bit of a ride down the road from downtown Aspen, and the next closest town for facilities is Snowmass, a ten-minute drive to the west.
