A decade of skate at X Games
Paul Rodriguez
For the first time in more than a decade, X Games will not grace the streets of downtown Los Angeles. Instead, X Games is heading to Austin, Texas, to start a new chapter. But before that, skate photographer Bryce Kanights thought it would only be appropriate to look back on the many years of skateboarding that X Games brought to Los Angeles. All photos and captions by Kanights. X Games 10 brought X Games to Los Angeles, with an actual Skateboard Street contest outside of the Staples Center. Here, Paul Rodriguez kickflips over a hedge in July 2004.
For the first time in more than a decade, X Games will not grace the streets of downtown Los Angeles. Instead, X Games is heading to Austin, Texas, to start a new chapter. But before that, skate photographer Bryce Kanights thought it would only be appropriate to look back on the many years of skateboarding that X Games brought to Los Angeles. All photos and captions by Kanights.
X Games 10 brought X Games to Los Angeles, with an actual Skateboard Street contest outside of the Staples Center. Here, Paul Rodriguez kickflips over a hedge in July 2004.
Tony Trujillo
All-terrain powerhouse Tony Trujillo pushes through a crooked grind upon the Skateboard Street Plaza at X Games 10 in L.A. in July 2004.
All-terrain powerhouse Tony Trujillo pushes through a crooked grind upon the Skateboard Street Plaza at X Games 10 in L.A. in July 2004.
Danny Way
In the second year of Skateboard Big Air at X Games 11 in July, 2005, Danny Way rose to the occasion to win back-to-back gold medals with this massive Christ air.
In the second year of Skateboard Big Air at X Games 11 in July, 2005, Danny Way rose to the occasion to win back-to-back gold medals with this massive Christ air.
Elissa Steamer
Elissa Steamer floats an ollie shifty to land on top of the podium at the Women's Skateboard Street event at X Games 11 in L.A. in July 2005.
Elissa Steamer floats an ollie shifty to land on top of the podium at the Women's Skateboard Street event at X Games 11 in L.A. in July 2005.
Ryan Sheckler
Ryan Sheckler frontside kickflips across a gap during Skateboard Street finals at X Games 14 in July 2008. The gold was all his.
Ryan Sheckler frontside kickflips across a gap during Skateboard Street finals at X Games 14 in July 2008. The gold was all his.
Rune Glifberg
The modern version of the Skateboard Park event debuted at X Games 14 in L.A. in July 2008, where Rune Glifberg stepped up to this frontside tailslide and won gold.
The modern version of the Skateboard Park event debuted at X Games 14 in L.A. in July 2008, where Rune Glifberg stepped up to this frontside tailslide and won gold.
Evan Strong
Evan Strong pushes through a feeble grind over the spine during the Adaptive Action Sports demonstration event in Skateboard Park at X Games 15 in July 2009.
Evan Strong pushes through a feeble grind over the spine during the Adaptive Action Sports demonstration event in Skateboard Park at X Games 15 in July 2009.
Chris Miller
Chris Miller powers through a lengthy backside bluntslide during the Legend's Skateboard Park event at X Games 15 in July 2009.
Chris Miller powers through a lengthy backside bluntslide during the Legend's Skateboard Park event at X Games 15 in July 2009.
Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk crosses an ominous chasm with a frontside Smith grind during the Legend's Skateboard Park practice at X Games 15 in July 2009. For a unique TV camera angle, ESPN installed a fisheye camera inside the capsule.
Tony Hawk crosses an ominous chasm with a frontside Smith grind during the Legend's Skateboard Park practice at X Games 15 in July 2009. For a unique TV camera angle, ESPN installed a fisheye camera inside the capsule.
Adaptive Action Sports
Adaptive Action Sports premiered as a demonstration event in Skateboard Park at X Games 15. Here, the crew takes a break in the action with co-founder Amy Purdy.
Adaptive Action Sports premiered as a demonstration event in Skateboard Park at X Games 15. Here, the crew takes a break in the action with co-founder Amy Purdy.
Vert buddies
Top guns atop the vert ramp: Skateboard Vert competitor Pierre-Luc Gagnon and BMX Vert competitor Jamie Bestwick pair up in preparation for X Games 16 in August 2010.
Top guns atop the vert ramp: Skateboard Vert competitor Pierre-Luc Gagnon and BMX Vert competitor Jamie Bestwick pair up in preparation for X Games 16 in August 2010.
Raven Tershy
Raven Tershy entered as a dark horse in X Games 17 and skated away with the Skateboard Park gold in August 2011. And the progression of the construction of the Skateboard Park course continued in full force.
Raven Tershy entered as a dark horse in X Games 17 and skated away with the Skateboard Park gold in August 2011. And the progression of the construction of the Skateboard Park course continued in full force.
David Gonzalez
David Gonzalez carves a stylized wall ride during the Skateboard Street event at X Games 17 in July 2011.
David Gonzalez carves a stylized wall ride during the Skateboard Street event at X Games 17 in July 2011.
Lizard King
Find the line and have fun with it. Lizard King melon grabs into a big drop during the Skateboard Street semifinals at X Games 17 in July 2011.
Find the line and have fun with it. Lizard King melon grabs into a big drop during the Skateboard Street semifinals at X Games 17 in July 2011.
Bucky Lasek
And then X Games expanded outside of Los Angeles in 2013, beginning in Brazil. Here, Bucky Lasek drives a frontside nose grind across the extension bridge adjacent to the world-renowned falls of Foz do Iguacu in April 2013.
And then X Games expanded outside of Los Angeles in 2013, beginning in Brazil. Here, Bucky Lasek drives a frontside nose grind across the extension bridge adjacent to the world-renowned falls of Foz do Iguacu in April 2013.
Nyjah Huston
Golden, but no longer a child, Nyjah Huston displays his technical power and skill with this switch backside tailslide in Barcelona at the Skateboard Street Finals at X Games Barcelona in May 2013.
Golden, but no longer a child, Nyjah Huston displays his technical power and skill with this switch backside tailslide in Barcelona at the Skateboard Street Finals at X Games Barcelona in May 2013.
Jagger Eaton
Little big gun Eaton Jagger spins a mighty McTwist in front of a full house during the Big Air finals in Munich, Germany, to earn the bronze medal in June 2013.
Little big gun Eaton Jagger spins a mighty McTwist in front of a full house during the Big Air finals in Munich, Germany, to earn the bronze medal in June 2013.
David Gonzalez
And then it was back to the Event Deck at L.A. Live for one final competition at X Games Los Angeles in July 2013. Here, David Gonzalez bids farewell to X Games events in Los Angeles with style during Street League eliminations.
And then it was back to the Event Deck at L.A. Live for one final competition at X Games Los Angeles in July 2013. Here, David Gonzalez bids farewell to X Games events in Los Angeles with style during Street League eliminations.
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