What are the X Games: An extreme winter sport event like no other

Winter Sports 23 Jan 25

Great Britain might not be known for their snowy climes, but at the X Games two British talents are aiming to show it does not take snow at home to have success.

The Games sees athletes compete in a range of disciplines across skiing and snowboarding in a celebration of extreme sport.

With live music in the evening to accompany the exhilarating sport on show, the Games certainly promise excitement and it is a feeling that extends to the prospects of GB’s young talent.

Mia Brookes, Zoe Atkin and Kirsty Muir already boast five X Games medals between them despite having a combined age of just 60.

Find out which British athletes will take the slopes by storm and turning GB into serious medal contenders at a Games designed to thrill.

What is the X Games?

Since its first season in 1995, the X Games has annually hosted competition between the best athletes in snow sport.

The X Games itself refer to a series of action sports competitions that combine extreme sport with music and culture. These are split between two yearly festivals - one in Aspen and one in Sacramento.

The upcoming winter edition refers specifically to the X Games Aspen 2025, which is solely comprised of the sports of snowboarding and skiing.

In both sports, athletes compete in the disciplines of SuperPipe, Slopestyle, Big Air, Knuckle Huck and Street Style.

Fans have to wait until the balmier month of August for the Sacramento X Games where athletes compete in skateboarding and BMX.

As well as witnessing the top talents competing for titles, spectators will also be able to enjoy live music in the evening in a celebration of the sports’ rebellious nature.

It will take place at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado on the weekend 23-25 January.

What is Britain's history at the X Games?

GB Snowsport carries strong form into this X Games having had considerable podium success over the past few years.

Their history at the competition stretches far longer, though. Jenny Jones remains Britain’s greatest success on the slopes having won three X Games golds between 2009 and 2010.

The snowboarder made history when she took bronze in the slopestyle event at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, becoming the first Briton to win an Olympic medal in a snow event.

Now, leading a new crop of medal hopefuls, Brookes is the top billed British representative having won the Snowboard Slopestyle title at the X Games last year.

Brookes won the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year 2023 after becoming the youngest ever Snowboard World Champion.

As well as becoming the first Brit to win a world title, she was also the first woman to land a Cab 1440 in competition.

Atkin also represents an experienced X Games competitor, winning Ski SuperPipe gold in 2023 before following it up with a silver in 2024 for back-to-back podiums.

Who will be representing Britain?

Brookes will once more take to the slopes as she hopes to defend her snowboard Slopestyle title.

Having competed in the Big Air event in 2024, finishing fourth, she could also be aiming to break onto the podium this time around.

In the skiing events, Atkin will be aiming to reclaim her Ski SuperPipe title. She has the opportunity to take a third consecutive podium in her sixth appearance at the games.

Muir will sadly miss out on a return to the slopes after a year's absence through injury. The 20-year-old debuted at the Games in 2022, when she was the youngest in the competition and became the first Scottish skier to compete at the X Games.

How can you watch the X Games?

The X Games will be available to watch for free internationally, meaning anyone hoping to cheer on GB or catch some skiing or snowboarding live is in luck.

Action from across the weekend will be streamed live on the X Games’ YouTube and Twitch channels as well as their website XGames.com, where the schedule will also be listed.

Where does music come into all of this?

Since the first X Games to the present day, music has played a big role at the competitions alongside the sport.

Those attending in-person are able to watch some of the best athletes around during the day before attending live music acts in the evening, all contributing to a festival vibe.

Over the years the X Games has provided a stage to artists from a variety of genres, including punk rock, hip-hop and EDM.

In 2025, the line-up includes Canadian DJ deadmau5 and Grammy-nominated dance musician Illenium.

Sportsbeat 2025

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