The Future of Action Sports Begins: MoonPay X Games League Opens 2026 Season with Unforgettable Day One in Sacramento

Men’s BMX Park, Women’s Skateboard Park and Moto X Best Whip medalists highlight the historic opening day of competition at Cal Expo; Kaskade Entertains the Crowd to Close Out the Evening

MoonPay X Games Sacramento 2026 officially launched today with a thrilling opening day which included an official press day, press conference, world-class competitions, and live music, marking the official debut of the MoonPay X Games League. The inaugural event crowned its first champions in Men’s BMX Park, Women’s Skateboard Park and Moto X Best Whip, as the world’s top action sports athletes delivered standout performances in front of an energized Sacramento crowd to kick off three days of elite competition and entertainment.

Men’s BMX Park

Kicking off the first competition of the weekend, the BMX Park final was stacked with proven champions–with seven of the eight riders in the field already owning X Games gold medals in the discipline. Among them, Justin Dowell and Jose Torres were the only returning gold medalists not selected by a MoonPay XGL Club, leaving them to compete as free agents. Dowell delivered a near-flawless third run to earn gold with a 97.00. His winning run featured a technical combination of a 360 double tailwhip, triple truckdriver, flair barspin, backflip barspin to turndown, truckdriver to downside tailwhip, and a massive 900 no-hander to close. 

“This isn’t just a medal, this is thousands and thousands of hours in a training facility,” said Dowell. “This is an example of hard work. And I have another event tomorrow. So, I’m going to go hang this up in my hotel room, and close the door to focus on tomorrow.”

Logan Martin (XC New York) claimed silver with a 95.66, highlighting his run with an opposite flair opposite whip, 720 barspin flipwhip, double downside tailwhip, and double flair. Kevin Peraza (XC Tokyo) rounded out the podium with bronze after an electrifying, crowd-pleasing run that blended style and technicality, including a Superman seatgrab, barspin transfer to wallride toboggan, 360 double downside tailwhip, peg grind over the wagon wheel, and a flair tailwhip to fakie over the box jump.

Women’s Skateboard Park 

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 26: The podium of the women’s skateboard park final of the MoonPay X Games Sacramento 2026 at California Exposition & State Fair on June 26, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images for MoonPay X Games Sacramento 2026)

Sixteen-year-old Australian skateboarder Arisa Trew (XC Tokyo) continued her remarkable rise in Women’s Skateboard Park, capturing her ninth career X Games gold medal and 10th overall medal with a winning Run 2 score of 92.66. Her best run showcased a deep bag of tricks on the Tower Bridge extension and throughout the park, including a 540 onto the extension, frontside 50-50, frontside tailslide, backside 360, frontside Smith grind, backside 540 over the channel, and a standout switch McTwist—an element no rider, male or female, has landed in park competition. 

“I’m just super happy that I can be a part of inspiring the next generation of riders,” said Trew. “I’ve always been a competitive person, and I always want to do my best and push myself to the next level. Getting a triple gold is a big goal of mine. I’ve had two years to try to do it and I want to get to there.” 

Sky Brown (XC São Paulo) earned silver with an 85.00, highlighted by a frontside nosegrind tailgrab on the Tower Bridge extension, Madonna, kickflip frontside air over the jump box, and a backside 540 over the hip, while Raicca Ventura (XC São Paulo) secured bronze with a consistent 81.00 run featuring Indy airs, Smith grinds, a backside 360 over the bump, and a 50-50 on the rainbow rail to round out a highly competitive final.

Moto X Best Whip

The final competition of the opening day at MoonPay X Games Sacramento 2026 saw the Moto X Best Whip riders take center stage, with Belgium’s Julien Vanstippen earning gold for his signature style and massive, perfectly executed whips. 

“Everytime I win gold it’s a different feeling,” said Vanstippen. “Tonight, I’m going to celebrate for sure.”

Tom Parsons of Citra, Florida claimed the silver medal, while Wyatt Fontanot of Opelousas, Louisiana secured bronze, closing out the day’s on-course competition before fans turned their attention to the evening’s music performances.

The lively first day of the historic debut of the MoonPay X Games League at Cal Expo in Sacramento featured enthusiastic crowds, groundbreaking tricks and memorable victories across the competition venues. The energy carried into the evening with a high-energy headline performance by Kaskade, setting the tone for a weekend that blends elite competition with world-class live music.

Day One Competition Results:

  • Men’s BMX Park
    • Gold – Justin Dowell (Free Agent), Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA, 97.00
    • Silver – Logan Martin (XC NY), Logan Reserve, Australia, 95.66
    • Bronze – Kevin Peraza (XC TK), Tucson, Arizona, USA, 94.00
  • Women’s Skateboard Park
    • Gold – Arisa Trew (XC TK), Palm Beach, Gold Coast, Australia , 92.66
    • Silver – Sky Brown (XC SP), Miyazaki, Japan,  85.0
    • Bronze – Raicca Ventura (XC SP), São Paulo, Brazil, 81.0 
  • Moto X Best Whip
    • Gold – Julien Vanstippen, Ophain, Belgium
    • Silver – Tom Parsons, Citra, Florida, USA
    • Bronze – Wyatt Fontanot, Opelousas, Louisiana, USA 

For more details about MoonPay X Games Sacramento 2026, click here. Learn more about MoonPay X Games League here.