Ten Ways X Games Has Changed Since 1995
Ten Ways X Games Has Changed Since 1995
Since The Extreme Games started in 1995, a lot has changed. Not just in the sports we feature either, which have progressed mightily. From mobile phone technology to sponsors to global growth, action sports has grown from underground activity to worldwide phenomenon. Here, we look back on ten ways X Games has changed since the beginning.
Since The Extreme Games started in 1995, a lot has changed. Not just in the sports we feature either, which have progressed mightily. From mobile phone technology to sponsors to global growth, action sports has grown from underground activity to worldwide phenomenon. Here, we look back on ten ways X Games has changed since the beginning.
Energy Drinks
Back in 1995, when The Extreme Games were born, energy drink sponsors weren't really a thing. You had Mountain Dew and coffee. Red Bull was a thing, but it wasn't sponsoring athletes for action sports until the turn of the century. Nowadays, an energy drink sponsor is the norm for an X Games athlete.
Back in 1995, when The Extreme Games were born, energy drink sponsors weren't really a thing. You had Mountain Dew and coffee. Red Bull was a thing, but it wasn't sponsoring athletes for action sports until the turn of the century. Nowadays, an energy drink sponsor is the norm for an X Games athlete.
No social media
Back in 1995, when The Extreme Games were born, mobile phones weren't really a thing yet. At the time, if you wanted to film a trick, you had to film it, edit it on your desktop computer, export it to a VHS cassette and mail it around the country. Or you could get a photo/sequence in a magazine. Nowadays, Nyjah can grind a rail, edit it on his phone, upload it to Instagram and reach a lot more people in an hour than he would have 25 years ago.
Back in 1995, when The Extreme Games were born, mobile phones weren't really a thing yet. At the time, if you wanted to film a trick, you had to film it, edit it on your desktop computer, export it to a VHS cassette and mail it around the country. Or you could get a photo/sequence in a magazine. Nowadays, Nyjah can grind a rail, edit it on his phone, upload it to Instagram and reach a lot more people in an hour than he would have 25 years ago.
Sport lineups
When The Extreme Games started, we featured everything from barefoot water skiing to sky surfing to climbing. Not to discount any of those sports, but we've since narrowed the focus to skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross. But, anything is on the table....
When The Extreme Games started, we featured everything from barefoot water skiing to sky surfing to climbing. Not to discount any of those sports, but we've since narrowed the focus to skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross. But, anything is on the table....
Music consumption
If you were invited to The Extreme Games in 1995 and wanted to hear a certain Stone Temple Pilots song during your run, you had to cue up your own cassette Walkman to play the song (and make sure that the Walkman was secured to you without getting in the way or falling off). Now you can use wireless earbuds and an iPhone to pump your tunes, and you probably won't be listening to STP either....
If you were invited to The Extreme Games in 1995 and wanted to hear a certain Stone Temple Pilots song during your run, you had to cue up your own cassette Walkman to play the song (and make sure that the Walkman was secured to you without getting in the way or falling off). Now you can use wireless earbuds and an iPhone to pump your tunes, and you probably won't be listening to STP either....
Shoe sponsors
If you skated or rode BMX in 1995 and were invited to The Extreme Games, you may have been very lucky to be getting free shoe hook ups from Airwalk or Vans. But, chances are, you were buying your own shoes not made for your sport. Now, there's a shoe for any type of skateboarding or BMX riding, designed by someone from within your chosen industry.
If you skated or rode BMX in 1995 and were invited to The Extreme Games, you may have been very lucky to be getting free shoe hook ups from Airwalk or Vans. But, chances are, you were buying your own shoes not made for your sport. Now, there's a shoe for any type of skateboarding or BMX riding, designed by someone from within your chosen industry.
Street Disciplines
Street skateboarding and BMX Street were recognized activities when The Extreme Games started in 1995, but they weren't brought into the X Games until after the dawn of the millennium. In 1995, vert and park were the main flavors of the day at The Extreme Games.
Street skateboarding and BMX Street were recognized activities when The Extreme Games started in 1995, but they weren't brought into the X Games until after the dawn of the millennium. In 1995, vert and park were the main flavors of the day at The Extreme Games.
Pro Salaries
Before The Extreme Games, getting paid to ride a skateboard or bike existed, but they were not the norm. Some top pros made maybe $1000 a month, but that was about it. Then, with television exposure, sponsors increased and salaries went up. Remember Dave Mirra and Slim Jim? Slim Jim helped Mirra to become a household name beyond BMX.
Before The Extreme Games, getting paid to ride a skateboard or bike existed, but they were not the norm. Some top pros made maybe $1000 a month, but that was about it. Then, with television exposure, sponsors increased and salaries went up. Remember Dave Mirra and Slim Jim? Slim Jim helped Mirra to become a household name beyond BMX.
Globalization
When The Extreme Games started in 1995, the majority of the athletes invited were Americans. Now, with the explosion of the popularity of action sports, it's a global affair, with top athletes spanning the globe from Asia to Europe to South America and beyond.
When The Extreme Games started in 1995, the majority of the athletes invited were Americans. Now, with the explosion of the popularity of action sports, it's a global affair, with top athletes spanning the globe from Asia to Europe to South America and beyond.
Who's Tony Hawk?
What's a kickflip? When The Extreme Games started in 1995, Tony Hawk was a name known within skateboarding. After his 900, he entered the cultural lexicon as a household name. And kickflips? They were known within skateboarding but that was about it. Nowadays, anyone with a skateboard is likely to get heckled with "Hey Tony Hawk, do a kickflip" by passers by.
What's a kickflip? When The Extreme Games started in 1995, Tony Hawk was a name known within skateboarding. After his 900, he entered the cultural lexicon as a household name. And kickflips? They were known within skateboarding but that was about it. Nowadays, anyone with a skateboard is likely to get heckled with "Hey Tony Hawk, do a kickflip" by passers by.
Backflips Weren't A Thing
When The Extreme Games started in 1995, freestyle motocross was not yet a sport at the event. A few years later, Moto X Freestyle became an event, but the jumps were all Moto-influenced can cans and superman seatgrabs. Then Carey Hart threw the backflip, and everything changed. Now a backflip is a practice warm-up jump in Moto X Best Trick.
When The Extreme Games started in 1995, freestyle motocross was not yet a sport at the event. A few years later, Moto X Freestyle became an event, but the jumps were all Moto-influenced can cans and superman seatgrabs. Then Carey Hart threw the backflip, and everything changed. Now a backflip is a practice warm-up jump in Moto X Best Trick.
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