2013's 20 best X Games firsts
First Time For Everything
Seven months, six stops, five countries and a whole lot of new hardware to clear customs: 2013 was a whirlwind of a year for the X Games. Many athletes competed in their first event, and many won their first medal. But that's the thing about X Games: New stars are born and new records are set every day. Here's a look back at 20 of the most memorable global X Games firsts from 2013.
Seven months, six stops, five countries and a whole lot of new hardware to clear customs: 2013 was a whirlwind of a year for the X Games. Many athletes competed in their first event, and many won their first medal. But that's the thing about X Games: New stars are born and new records are set every day. Here's a look back at 20 of the most memorable global X Games firsts from 2013.
20. Curren Caples, Munich
At the Munich X Games, Caples broke through to win his first X Games gold medal in Skateboard Park. Brazil's Pedro Barros had dominated Park all year, but Caples nailed his final run to win the gold.
At the Munich X Games, Caples broke through to win his first X Games gold medal in Skateboard Park. Brazil's Pedro Barros had dominated Park all year, but Caples nailed his final run to win the gold.
19. Speed, Doran RallyCross Firsts
Before the first Global X Games summer event of the year, Scott Speed had never jumped a car nor raced in rallycross. The former Formula One driver proved to be a natural, however, taking the lead by using the Joker lap on the final lap to win the first RallyCross race of the season at X Games Foz do Iguaçu. In June, at the next RallyCross race, Liam Doran raced his new Mini for the first time and won the first of two main events at X Games Munich. Doran earned silver the next day in the second Munich final.
Before the first Global X Games summer event of the year, Scott Speed had never jumped a car nor raced in rallycross. The former Formula One driver proved to be a natural, however, taking the lead by using the Joker lap on the final lap to win the first RallyCross race of the season at X Games Foz do Iguaçu. In June, at the next RallyCross race, Liam Doran raced his new Mini for the first time and won the first of two main events at X Games Munich. Doran earned silver the next day in the second Munich final.
18. Laia Sanz, Foz do Iguaçu
Spanish rider Laia Sanz, a 12-time FIM Trials World champion, 10-time European Trials champion and the 2012 FIM World Enduro champion, had never competed in an endurocross race until this year. Though she wasn't used to the jumps, Sanz's trials experience led to a dominating debut at X Games Foz do Iguaçu, where she won by 34 seconds. "I came here for my first time and I knew that taking a medal would be really difficult," Sanz said after the race. "I didn't hope to win, so I'm really, really happy. It's an incredible thing."
Spanish rider Laia Sanz, a 12-time FIM Trials World champion, 10-time European Trials champion and the 2012 FIM World Enduro champion, had never competed in an endurocross race until this year. Though she wasn't used to the jumps, Sanz's trials experience led to a dominating debut at X Games Foz do Iguaçu, where she won by 34 seconds. "I came here for my first time and I knew that taking a medal would be really difficult," Sanz said after the race. "I didn't hope to win, so I'm really, really happy. It's an incredible thing."
17. Jamie Crane-Mauzy, Aspen
At X Games Aspen 2013 in Women's Ski Slopestyle, Utah's Jamie Crane-Mauzy became the first female to land a double backflip in competition. She didn't podium with the trick (she placed seventh), but she earned herself a spot in the history books.
At X Games Aspen 2013 in Women's Ski Slopestyle, Utah's Jamie Crane-Mauzy became the first female to land a double backflip in competition. She didn't podium with the trick (she placed seventh), but she earned herself a spot in the history books.
16. Gymkhana GRID, Los Angeles
Gymkhana GRID, a head-to-head race with spins and drifts, made its X Games debut Aug. 3 at the Irwindale Events Center during X Games Los Angeles. Seven of the eight drivers who competed are shown in this sequential photo of the container feature of the course. Tanner Foust won the gold.
Gymkhana GRID, a head-to-head race with spins and drifts, made its X Games debut Aug. 3 at the Irwindale Events Center during X Games Los Angeles. Seven of the eight drivers who competed are shown in this sequential photo of the container feature of the course. Tanner Foust won the gold.
15. BMX Big Air Firsts
After landing the first backflip, bike flip to late tailwhip in Barcelona, Zack Warden sealed the deal on his second BMX Big Air gold medal with a triple tailwhip on the quarterpipe. Other firsts in Barca included Chad Kagy's cliffhanger backflip and Colton Satterfield's 360 decade backflip. In Los Angeles Vince Byron got in on the action, landing the first 540 double tailwhip on the MegaRamp.
After landing the first backflip, bike flip to late tailwhip in Barcelona, Zack Warden sealed the deal on his second BMX Big Air gold medal with a triple tailwhip on the quarterpipe. Other firsts in Barca included Chad Kagy's cliffhanger backflip and Colton Satterfield's 360 decade backflip. In Los Angeles Vince Byron got in on the action, landing the first 540 double tailwhip on the MegaRamp.
14. Kaya Turski, Tignes
Kaya Turski just missed a four-peat in Women's Ski Slopestyle in Aspen, winning silver. But she redeemed herself in Tignes by scoring her seventh career X Games gold and becoming the first woman to four-peat in Ski Slopestyle.
Kaya Turski just missed a four-peat in Women's Ski Slopestyle in Aspen, winning silver. But she redeemed herself in Tignes by scoring her seventh career X Games gold and becoming the first woman to four-peat in Ski Slopestyle.
13. Jamie Bestwick, Barcelona
It was no secret that Jamie Bestwick made X Games history with the first eight-peat ever at X Games in BMX Vert. But for the hardened BMX fan, that aspect of Bestwick's time in Barcelona took a backseat to new vert tricks that he laid down during his runs, including the very first seatgrab nac nac 540, with the added Bestwick height and style for good measure.
It was no secret that Jamie Bestwick made X Games history with the first eight-peat ever at X Games in BMX Vert. But for the hardened BMX fan, that aspect of Bestwick's time in Barcelona took a backseat to new vert tricks that he laid down during his runs, including the very first seatgrab nac nac 540, with the added Bestwick height and style for good measure.
12. Tucker Hibbert and Shaun White, Aspen
Snowmobiler Tucker Hibbert scored the first winter six-peat and his seventh career SnoCross gold medal in Aspen 13 years after he won his first at age 15. Later that day, Shaun White would follow suit by winning his sixth Snowboard SuperPipe gold.
Snowmobiler Tucker Hibbert scored the first winter six-peat and his seventh career SnoCross gold medal in Aspen 13 years after he won his first at age 15. Later that day, Shaun White would follow suit by winning his sixth Snowboard SuperPipe gold.
11. X Games MUSIC, X Games FILM and X Games STYLE
X Games MUSIC, X Games FILM and X Games STYLE made their debut at X Games Aspen in January, kicking off with an outdoor performance at Buttermilk Mountain by electronic dance-music artist Calvin Harris. The event also included a style presentation and screenings of documentaries about pro snowboarder Kevin Pearce ("The Crash Reel") and Green Day ("Cuatro!"). Other performances throughout X Games 2013 included 50 Cent, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and AWOLNATION, as well as showings of films such as "Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau."
X Games MUSIC, X Games FILM and X Games STYLE made their debut at X Games Aspen in January, kicking off with an outdoor performance at Buttermilk Mountain by electronic dance-music artist Calvin Harris. The event also included a style presentation and screenings of documentaries about pro snowboarder Kevin Pearce ("The Crash Reel") and Green Day ("Cuatro!"). Other performances throughout X Games 2013 included 50 Cent, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and AWOLNATION, as well as showings of films such as "Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau."
10. Morgan Wade, Barcelona
The BMX Big Air competition in Barcelona also included a record-setting height for air out of the quarterpipe. Wade moved the needle on the height meter to 23 feet, 3 inches to get his name in the X Games record book.
The BMX Big Air competition in Barcelona also included a record-setting height for air out of the quarterpipe. Wade moved the needle on the height meter to 23 feet, 3 inches to get his name in the X Games record book.
9. First Triples, Aspen
At X Games Aspen 2013, Henrik Harlaut, pictured, landed the first nose butter triple cork 1620 to win Ski Big Air gold. Torstein Horgmo won Snowboard Big Air gold with a switch backside triple cork 1440, the first landed in competition. In Snowboard Slopestyle, X Games rookie Max Parrot got silver with the first triple cork landed in a slopestyle contest.
At X Games Aspen 2013, Henrik Harlaut, pictured, landed the first nose butter triple cork 1620 to win Ski Big Air gold. Torstein Horgmo won Snowboard Big Air gold with a switch backside triple cork 1440, the first landed in competition. In Snowboard Slopestyle, X Games rookie Max Parrot got silver with the first triple cork landed in a slopestyle contest.
8. Vicki Golden's Best Whip Debut
In Los Angeles, Vicki Golden became the first woman to compete in Moto X Best Whip. She held her own against the men, picking up a bronze medal in the event determined by fan voting on Twitter. "She rides better than most dudes," said silver medalist Jeremy Stenberg, a four-time Best Whip gold medalist.
In Los Angeles, Vicki Golden became the first woman to compete in Moto X Best Whip. She held her own against the men, picking up a bronze medal in the event determined by fan voting on Twitter. "She rides better than most dudes," said silver medalist Jeremy Stenberg, a four-time Best Whip gold medalist.
7. I-Pod, Tignes
Iouri Podladtchikov landed the first Cab double cork 1440 in competition during the Men's Snowboard SuperPipe final at X Games Tignes. He called it the YOLO Flip, after the unstoppably viral teen meme: You Only Live Once.
Iouri Podladtchikov landed the first Cab double cork 1440 in competition during the Men's Snowboard SuperPipe final at X Games Tignes. He called it the YOLO Flip, after the unstoppably viral teen meme: You Only Live Once.
6. Bob Burnquist, Munich And Foz do Iguaçu
Burnquist won three golds in Skateboard Big Air in 2013 and also recorded a pair of firsts. He landed a switch 540 ollie, shown here in Munich, and also landed a lien 720 rodeo in Foz.
Burnquist won three golds in Skateboard Big Air in 2013 and also recorded a pair of firsts. He landed a switch 540 ollie, shown here in Munich, and also landed a lien 720 rodeo in Foz.
5. Alana Smith And LIzzie Armanto, Barcelona
The debut of Women's Skateboard Park brought some marks: Alana Smith, 12, won her first medal and became the youngest medalist in X Games history. Lizzie Armanto, shown here, won her first gold.
The debut of Women's Skateboard Park brought some marks: Alana Smith, 12, won her first medal and became the youngest medalist in X Games history. Lizzie Armanto, shown here, won her first gold.
4. Elena Hight, Aspen
At X Games Tignes, Elena Hight landed a double backside alley-oop on the last hit of her run, which helped earn her the silver medal in Women's Snowboard SuperPipe. The only other snowboarder who has this trick dialed is Shaun White, and he's never landed it in a competition before.
At X Games Tignes, Elena Hight landed a double backside alley-oop on the last hit of her run, which helped earn her the silver medal in Women's Snowboard SuperPipe. The only other snowboarder who has this trick dialed is Shaun White, and he's never landed it in a competition before.
3. Jake Brown And Elliot Sloan, Foz do Iguaçu
A 720 ollie had never been done anywhere by anyone before Jake Brown landed one in Foz. Brown won bronze in the Skateboard Big Air competition there. Elliot Sloan landed the first 720 tailgrab on the MegaRamp in Foz, as well, and followed that up with his first X Games gold medal in Big Air in Los Angeles.
A 720 ollie had never been done anywhere by anyone before Jake Brown landed one in Foz. Brown won bronze in the Skateboard Big Air competition there. Elliot Sloan landed the first 720 tailgrab on the MegaRamp in Foz, as well, and followed that up with his first X Games gold medal in Big Air in Los Angeles.
2. Brett Rheeder, Munich
Munich hosted the X Games' first Mountain Bike Slopestyle competition. Canadian Brett Rheeder, shown here dropping in for his final run, took home the gold in dramatic fashion. He edged out countryman Brandon Semenuk for the win.
Munich hosted the X Games' first Mountain Bike Slopestyle competition. Canadian Brett Rheeder, shown here dropping in for his final run, took home the gold in dramatic fashion. He edged out countryman Brandon Semenuk for the win.
1. Real Surf, Women and Ski Backcountry
In Tignes, France, Real Ski Backcountry debuted as a brand-new video contest. Sammy Carlson won the judges' favorite award. Real Surf then debuted at X Games in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, and Jordy Smith, pictured, won. Real Women debuted in Barcelona, where Leticia Bufoni won the judges' vote and Ingrid Backstrom won the fan vote. Firsts all around.
In Tignes, France, Real Ski Backcountry debuted as a brand-new video contest. Sammy Carlson won the judges' favorite award. Real Surf then debuted at X Games in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, and Jordy Smith, pictured, won. Real Women debuted in Barcelona, where Leticia Bufoni won the judges' vote and Ingrid Backstrom won the fan vote. Firsts all around.