X Games Ventura 2024 Presented by SONIC, the world’s premier action sports competition, kicked off the first of three days with six eliminations, the debut of Women’s BMX Park, fan favorite Men’s Skateboard Vert, Samsung Galaxy BMX Street and Moto X Best Whip. The day also saw three musical acts, including Wiz Khalifa closing out the day.
The day saw Skateboarder Tom Schaar earn his first Vert gold medal, Kevin Peraza win his second straight BMX Street gold and Moto X Best Whip rider Patrick Evans earn his first gold.
Women’s BMX Park Final on the SONIC Park Course
Five-time World Champion Hannah Roberts (USA) made her mark in the first ever Women’s BMX Park event at the X Games, capturing a historic gold medal with a performance that earned her a comfortable five-point margin over her competitors. Sealing a score of 90.00 on her first attempt set the tone for the competition, as she showcased a sequence of tricks that included a truckdriver, no-hander, flair, 360 x-up, tailwhip, tabletop, barspin and an x-up to cap off her run. While the difficulty set Roberts run apart, Perris Benegas used her flow and style to earn the bronze ahead of German Kim Mueller.
“This is such a big summer. Between the Olympic qualifier last week, X Games this week, and then in a month, I’ll be going to my second Olympics. It’s been such an amazing experience, and I’ve been having just so much fun riding my bike. I’m extremely grateful for everything,”.
said Roberts
Pacifico Men’s Skateboard Vert Final
In a thrilling Skateboard Vert final, long time X Games competitor Tom Schaar earned his very first gold medal in Vert as one of the older competitors at the ripe age of 24. With seven-time Vert gold medalist Jimmy Wilkins sitting in first place in the fourth and final runs, Schaar stomped a flawless run in the last 10 seconds of the competition. Moto Shibata, who sat just off the podium heading into his fourth run, landed a nearly flawless run to knock Wilkins into bronze.
“I didn’t think it was going to work out, but I somehow got to the last trick, made it onto the deck, and yeah, just all smiles,”.
said Schaar
Tom’s best run included: Alley-oop backside 540, tail grab 540, heelflip indy, frontside nose grind, kickflip indy to fakie, into cab tail grab 720, alley-oop lipslide, kickflip body varial 540, bigspin backside lipslide, and finished with tail grab 360 to fakie.
Samsung Galaxy BMX Street Final
In BMX Street, reigning gold medalist Kevin Peraza proved last year’s gold was no fluke as he began his quest to take home golds in all three disciplines in one X Games event. Competing in three disciplines this weekend, Peraza showed off why he is one of the best all-around riders in the sport. With his whole family cheering him on, Peraza took gold on the strength of his best trick – a peg to hardway 180 downside tail whip off the VW van.
Silver medalist Jordan Godwin became the first Welsh athlete to medal at X Games and Aussie Lewis Mills took bronze.
Garrett Reynolds who was looking to break his shared record of the most X Games gold medals with Shaun White was unable to complete that goal, missing the podium for the first time in his last 19 appearances.
Moto X Best Whip Final
In the final competition of the day, American Patrick Evans earned gold in just his second X Games appearance over 2022 gold medalist Julien Vanstippen. Riding an electric Stark Future bike, Evans defied gravity with his corked out whip.
“It’s been extremely tough five or six years and I want to thank everyone who stood behind me and believed in me. There was so much pressure coming into this event for me to win it. The beautiful thing about freeriding is that it isn’t a contest, even though I’m walking around with a medal right now. Best Whip is about your style and your creativity, and it’s cool to win but I’m going back to the hills to build some jumps and
said Evans
do my thing.”
The bronze medal went to 13-time X Games medalist Tyler Bereman, whose slow casual style earned him a bronze medal. As a tribute to his late friend Lyon Herron, Bereman rode with his friends ashes in his bike seat as a tribute.
Women’s & Men’s Skateboard Park Elimination on the SONIC Park Course
Opening up the X Games weekend was the Women’s Skateboard Park Elimination, where 2023 X Games double gold medalist Arisa Trew took the top transfer spot.
In the Men’s Elimination, the last five to eight positions moved around dramatically as each skater upped the ante with bigger risks in the last run. In the end, it was 29-year old Brazilian Pedro Barros who claimed the top spot with a score of 86.33 to add a seventh gold medal in X Games Park.
Monster Energy Women’s & Men’s Skateboard Street Elimination
In the women’s elimination, the Japanese athletes continued their dominance in skateboarding, claiming the top five of eight transfer spots.
On the men’s side, 21-time X Games medalist Nyjah Huston (USA) squeaked into the finals, when he moved from 13th position to fourth in his last run. Huston will be looking to reclaim his first gold in five years this weekend. 2023 silver medalist Braden Hoban (USA) finished in the top position with a 90.33.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch BMX Dirt Elimination
For the second consecutive year, 21-year-old Brady Baker (USA) qualified in the top spot in the Elimination round over Ryan Williams. Women’s & Men’s Skateboard Park Elimination on the SONIC Park Course Opening up the X Games weekend was the Women’s Skateboard Park Elimination, where 2023 X Games double gold medalist Arisa Trew took the top transfer spot.
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