ESPN submitted a special request permit to Pitkin County, CO to allow X Games Aspen to get the green light. The permit request details having a fenced-in area and no more than 500 people at the event. The 500 people will include athletes and event support. Buttermilk Mountain will only have skiing and snowboarding X-Games events and no motorsports.

The event permit request requires several specific COVID-19 specific procedures. These include COVID-19 testing available on-site and three-layer masks only to be removed when eating and drinking.

In 2020, most professional sporting events have not had spectators. With X-Games being no different in 2021, we will have to see if this impacts athlete performance. 12-time X-Games medalist Henrick Harlaut often compares his skiing to music. He looks at competition as the live performance and his ski movies as an album. Will live coverage on ESPN be enough to support athletes or will athletes struggle without the audience?

The permit request will go through several local agencies to ensure it is safe. First, the permit will have to get approval from the Pitkin Board of County Commissioners on December 15th. The permit will also be reviewed by the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office and the Pitkin County Community Development Department. In addition to county-level approval, the permit will also have to be approved by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. It was submitted to the state on November 30th for approval.

X Games Aspen is a major source of revenue for the Aspen Valley and hosting it on ESPN, ESPN 2, and ABC will likely help some of the economic loss. In the past, more than 100,000 spectators have traveled to the Aspen Valley to watch this event.

If the permit is approved, the events will occur from January 29-31, and the event permit would be valid for 6 full days. Since this will be a fenced-off event, skiing and riding will continue to be open to the public at Buttermilk Mountain. It is possible a reservation system will be enacted for these days.

Courtesy of snowbrains.com visit here for more info for X Games.

Cassidy Jarrell is tightening up his DJ skills and rehabbing an ankle from a March injury. Alex Ferreira is studying for his business degree and training dryland.

Aspen freeskiers, including the aforementioned U.S. pro team members, aren’t sitting around waiting to hear details of how the 2010-21 competition season, including the X Games, will look.

Because the organizers still don’t know how or if the 2021 X Games Aspen, scheduled for Jan. 28-31, will fly this year.

“We think it would be powerful to pull off an event of this caliber in this, our 20th year, but only if it can be done safely and thoughtfully,” said John Rigney, Aspen Skiing Co. senior vice president, on Wednesday.

“Right now we are focused on putting together the essentials of an incredible athletic event, and we’ll address other potential additions as the situation evolves,” he said. Those additions could include the concerts that have grown in popularity over the years, sometimes overshadowing the athletics.

Would organizers consider a spectator-less X Games, as it’s often been called the perfect made-for-TV event anyway? Rigney didn’t say.

“We are working with ESPN and Pitkin County, looking into options to provide a safe event that provides elite winter sports athletes the typical world-class competition venues at Buttermilk and gives skiing and snowboarding fans worldwide an amazing viewing experience. We will be flexible and fluid with our new reality as the safety of the athletes, staff, spectators and the community will remain our top priority,” he said.

Asked if the organizers considered outright canceling X Games this year amid all of the COVID-19 restrictions, Rigney said, “We’ve been lucky, as for two decades X Games has played a pivotal role in globally marketing Aspen Snowmass to a highly sought-after younger demographic. X is an integral part of our brand, fills the resort each January and always provides tons of vitality and excitement in the sports we love.”

World Cup halfpipe and park

More clarity for the FIS World Cup freeskiing season is expected to come into focus later in September when the ski federation convenes Sept. 30 — Oct. 2. for its fall meetings.

“That will determine much of the World Cup season,” said Andrew Gauthier, the U.S. Team’s marketing and communications director for freeski and snowboard.

“As a national governing body we are looking to FIS for guidance,” he said.

Currently, World Cup freeski events in the U.S., at Copper Mountain, Colorado, and Mammoth Mountain, California, remain on the schedule.

The ski federation’s decisions won’t directly impact how the X Games operates.

“As an independent event, we have no affiliation with FIS,” said Danny Chi, ESPN spokesman.

Chi said, “We continue to closely monitor COVID-19 developments as we evaluate the upcoming event season. The safety of the athletes, staff and spectators remain our top priority.”

The Dew Tour’s Summit County stop this season is also unconfirmed. The tour event for skiers and riders stopped at Copper Mountain Feb. 6-9, but has not decided what a return to snow during the pandemic would look like .

“In partnership with Copper and POWDR, we are in ongoing discussions to bring Dew Tour back to Copper in 2021,” said vice president and general manager Courtney Gresik.

Staying on the continent

Last month, FIS announced that all alpine World Cup races in North America — Killington, Vermont, Beaver Creek, Colorado and Lake Louise, Alberta — would be canceled for this season and the alpine ski tour concentrated in Europe to reduce travel during the pandemic.

That kind of a decision is not anticipated to happen to the freeskiing/riding tour, as many of the sports top athletes and venues are in the Western U.S., including the popular Buttermilk superpipe.

“We do feel there is an opportunity to feature freeski and snowboard World Cup events in North America this season,” said U.S. Skiing’s Andrew Gauthier.

“There could be efficiencies as it relates to the presence of non-FIS sanctioned, elite-level events that may be held in North America, resulting in a cluster of competitions that reduces travel and caters to the bubble concept,” he said.

Gauthier reiterated, “U.S. Ski & Snowboard is working closely with the International Ski Federation [FIS] and our domestic freeski and snowboard World Cup venues to determine what the 2020-21 competition season could look like.

Cassidy Jarrell’s best run last year was under the lights at X Games, having received a last-minute invitation as an alternate, a dream for anyone but especially for Aspen’s hometown boy.

While recovering from injury, Jarrell missed a U.S. Ski Team summer camp at Timberline, Mt. Hood, and will also not travel to Switzerland, beginning Sept. 19 for the next on-snow camp at the Saas-Fee Stomping Grounds Park.

The 20-year-old athlete and Aspen native said he’s had time to think about tricks he wants to work on this season and “getting my run back.”

Tuesday’s snow fired up Jarrell for the season and if he had been 100% health-wise, would have likely joined friends making some September turns.

“There’s still a lot of uncertainty but I’m doing my best to prepare for a full competitive season,” Jarrell said.

He will continue to work with Peter Olenick, 2010 X Games gold medalist and coach/director of the P.R.O. team and foundation. Olenick suffered a blow through the pandemic, losing the Korean athletes he has been coaching because of travel restrictions. This season Olenick will continue to work with skier Tristan Feinberg of Aspen.

Alex Ferreira, the 2018 Olympic silver medalist in halfpipe, was unavailable for an interview Wednesday, “as he is focusing all of his time and energy into training and school,” according to the U.S. Team’s Gauthier. Ferreira is bound for the training trip to Switzerland, which includes a quarantine period in Austria.

Younger athletes down the pipeline, including those with Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club, will need to wait a little while longer to see what their winter holds.

“As with much of the world, we are unsure of what the next few months will bring,” said Katie Houser, AVSC’s director of communications and marketing.

“We will make the most of the direction we receive from Aspen Skiing Co. and our sports’ governing bodies in regards to both hosting and traveling to events.

“As always, our priority is the health and safety of our athletes. We feel incredibly fortunate to have the resources that we do right here at home to provide world-class training regardless of potential travel limitations,” she said.

Courtesy of Madeleine Osberger

She is interim editor of the Aspen Daily News. She can be reached at madski@aspendailynews.com or on Twitter @Madski99

The star of women’s snowboarding, California’s Chloe Kim isn’t expected to compete this week at X Games Aspen. The five-time gold medalist, including four in Aspen, will miss the contest for the first time since her rookie run in 2014 as she’s opted to sit out the entire season to focus on her studies at Princeton.

This means there is an opening for someone else to take the spotlight at Buttermilk. While Kim is gone, many other stars return, such as Jamie Anderson and Anna Gasser, so there isn’t much to fret about. Here’s what to look for in the women’s snowboarding competitions at X Games Aspen 2020:

BIG AIR

Finals: Thursday, 9 p.m.

2019 podium: Laurie Blouin (gold), Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (silver), Jamie Anderson (bronze)

The field of eight is led by Anderson, who needs only two more Winter X Games medals to match the all-time mark held by halfpipe legend Shaun White, who won 18 over his career. Shockingly, all five of Anderson’s gold medals have come in slopestyle; she’s only medaled in big air at X Games twice, getting bronze in both 2018 and 2019.

Now, Anderson did win big air silver at the 2018 Winter Olympics, so she is certainly capable of taking the crown at X Games. Her competition Thursday will include reigning Olympic gold medalist Anna Gasser, however. The Austrian star won big air Aspen gold in 2018 and silver in 2017 but sat out the 2019 competition because of injury.

Reigning X Games Aspen big air champ Laurie Blouin of Canada is back to defend her title, as is last year’s silver medalist, New Zealand teen Zoi Sadowski-Synnott. The 2020 field also includes a trio of Japanese riders, led by Reira Iwabuchi, who won silver in 2018. Rounding things out is American Julia Marino, who has seven X Games medals between Aspen and Norway, including Aspen slopestyle gold in 2017.

SLOPESTYLE

Finals: Saturday, 11 a.m.

2019 podium: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (gold), Hailey Langland (silver), Enni Rukajarvi (bronze)

The slopestyle field includes some of the same stars from big air, such as Anderson, Gasser, Marino and Sadowski-Synnott. This has long been an event owned by Anderson, so she should be the favorite despite stiff competition. Anderson is the two-time reigning Olympic slopestyle champion, if that means anything.

Of course, Sadowski-Synnott is the reigning X Games champion and one of the sport’s rising superstars. The only reason Sadowski-Synnott even competed in slopestyle last year — it was her first time at X Games — was because Anderson pulled out after a gnarly crash in big air two days earlier. The Kiwi stepped in as the alternate and ended up winning the contest.

Langland and Rukajarvi both are back looking for a return to the podium. Langland won big air gold in Aspen in 2017, although she’s not competing in the event this year. Finland’s Rukajarvi is an X Games veteran with five total medals, including slopestyle gold in 2011 as an X Games rookie.

SUPERPIPE

Finals: Saturday, 8:45 p.m.

2019 podium: Chloe Kim (gold), Queralt Castellet (silver), Cai Xuetong (bronze)

Again, there is no Chloe Kim, and that’s significant as she currently is the unquestioned best female halfpipe rider in the world, and probably ever. Kim won X Games Aspen gold the past two years, her last defeat at Buttermilk coming when she won bronze in 2017. That winter it was Elena Hight, now retired from the halfpipe, who won gold. China’s Cai Xuetong won her lone silver that year.

So, whoever wins gold on Saturday will be a fresh face atop the X Games Aspen podium. California’s Maddie Mastro should be the unquestioned favorite, as she’s pushed women’s halfpipe snowboarding nearly as much as Kim in recent years (see above video of her at the U.S. Open last year). Mastro’s Aspen bronze in 2018 is her lone medal here, but chances are she adds to it this week.

Steamboat native Arielle Gold, a two-time silver medalist in Aspen, will be in the mix, as will Spain’s Queralt Castellet, the reigning X Games silver medalist, and Xuetong. The rest of the field is made of relative newcomers who will be looking to make a quick name for themselves with the spotlight on them for the first time.

The waiting game is about over. Back for the 19th consecutive year at Aspen’s Buttermilk Ski Area, ESPN’s annual Winter X Games will get underway next week with the best skiers and snowboarders set to strut their stuff.

Even without legend Shaun White and rising Japanese sensation Ayumu Hirano, the contests should be a smorgasbord of raw talent. Here’s what to look for in the men’s snowboarding competitions at X Games Aspen 2020:

SUPERPIPE

Finals: Thursday, 8 p.m.

2019 podium: Scotty James (gold), Yuto Totsuka (silver), Danny Davis (bronze)

The 15-man field will be about one guy, who is the unquestioned favorite coming in: Scotty James. The likeable Australian is dominating the sport like few have. The last time he lost a meaningful competition? Go back to the 2018 Winter Olympics, won by White with Hirano finishing second and James third. James has won everything under the sun since then, from the U.S. Open to the world championship to, yes, X Games.

He’s the reigning champ here in Aspen, that gold going with the one he won here in 2017. Hirano won X Games Aspen gold in 2018, when James finished second. White, as expected, is not here in 2020, nor is Hirano, who hasn’t competed in Aspen since winning gold two years ago. Quite frankly, James might not have much competition to keep him from a third Aspen gold medal on Thursday night.

His closest challenger is likely to be Japan’s Yuto Totsuka, the rising 18-year-old star who won silver last year behind James. With wins last spring at the Mammoth Grand Prix and a World Cup in Calgary — James didn’t compete in either — Totsuka has firmly established himself as the second-best halfpipe snowboarder over the past two years. Certainly if and when Hirano, who at 21 already has a pair of Olympic silver medals, and White decide to show up again, the hierarchy will be reset.

Steamboat’s Taylor Gold, who won X Games bronze in 2017, and two-time gold medalist Danny Davis are back, as is White’s protégé, the 19-year-old Toby Miller out of California. But in reality, it’ll be a showdown between James and Totsuka this week in Aspen for that gold medal. Everyone else is competing for bronze.

SLOPESTYLE

Finals: Saturday, Jan. 25, 1:45 p.m.

2019 podium: Mark McMorris (gold), Rene Rinnekangas (silver), Mons Roisland (bronze)

Unlike the superpipe, this is a competition that has a handful of potential winners. At the top of the list has to be Canadian superstar Mark McMorris, whose 17 combined Winter X Games medals are tied for second behind only White’s 18. McMorris has won X gold eight times, including slopestyle gold in 2019.

His toughest competition might be fellow Canadian Max Parrot, a 10-time X Games medalist (six gold) who overcame a bout with cancer last year to return to Aspen. Also competing is reigning Olympic gold medalist Red Gerard. The Summit County teen seems to be the future of the sport, although he’s yet to snag an X Games medal in three tries. His best finish in Aspen was fourth in 2018.

Norway’s Marcus Kleveland is a contender as well. He’s twice won X Games Aspen gold in slopestyle (2017, 2018) before sitting out last year after shattering his kneecap. He’s back, healthy and obviously knows how to win here.

There are plenty of other household names competing, like Rene Rinnekangas (silver in 2019), Mons Roisland, Stale Sandbech and Sebastien Toutant. And don’t forget about Silverthorne’s Chris Corning, a former Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club athlete. More of a big air specialist, this will be Corning’s third trip to X Games Aspen.

BIG AIR

Finals: Saturday, Jan. 25, 8 p.m.

2019 podium: Takeru Otsuka (gold), Mark McMorris (silver), Sven Thorgren (bronze)

Like in slopestyle, McMorris and Parrot have to be the favorites. They’ve dominated this event far too long not to be. Not to mention, last year’s champ, Japan’s Takeru Otsuka, isn’t competing. Toutant, Kleveland, Rinnekangas, Thorgren and Roisland all are, however, so it should be a good show.

All eyes should be on Corning, though. Health issues derailed his first two X Games Aspen competitions, so maybe his luck will change this year. He also struggled at the 2018 Olympics, but has otherwise dominated big air competitions everywhere else. His quad cork 1800 has become his staple, and if he lands that here at X Games he’ll likely win gold. Only 20, Corning will have has day in the sun soon enough.

BONUS EVENTS

On top of bringing back knuckle huck (Sunday, Jan. 26, 6:30 p.m.) for a second year, X Games has added two new snowboarding events for 2020 in superpipe best trick and a rail jam. Knuckle huck, which is where the riders toss themselves off the “knuckle,” or rounded part, of the big air jump, was a big hit last year. It was won by Fridtjof “Fridge” Tischendorf. He’s back, as is Kleveland, who will compete in the event he inspired for the first time.

The superpipe session (Friday, 9:30 p.m.) currently has eight riders, including James, Davis and Totsuka, so it should be stellar. The competition will be a 20-minute jam session with the riders getting to throw down their best single trick.

The rail jam (Sunday, Jan. 26, 1:30 p.m.) isn’t quite as star-studded, but does currently include Thorgren, Rinnekangas and Craig McMorris, Mark’s older brother and current X Games TV personality. Another jam session, riders will take to the rails on the slopestyle course and skip the jumps.

Of course, X Games wouldn’t be complete without the Special Olympics Unified snowboarding and skiing races Thursday morning that get everything started. Aspen’s own Chris Klug, an Olympic bronze medalist in alpine snowboarding, is always a contender.

Today X Games announced the musical lineup for X Games Aspen 2020, the world’s top winter action sports, music and festival experience, taking over the iconic base of Buttermilk Mountain, January 23-26. The 2020 winter edition will further its 23-year legacy of providing a home for the world’s best athletes positioned alongside a top-tier billing of urban and electronic musical talent.

The X Games Aspen 2020 music lineup (by-day) is as follows:

Friday, January 24
Rae Sremmurd

Saturday, January 25
ILLENIUM
Alesso

Sunday, January 26
Bazzi

Leading the X Games Aspen 2020 lineup is Grammy nominated producer and electronic music titan Alesso. Over the years the Swedish star has collaborated with chart topping acts like Calvin Harris, Usher, David Guetta, Sebastian Ingrosso, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, and more, while delivering a bevy of genre bending solo work. These accomplishments have seen him takeover some of the festival circuit’s biggest stages at Coachella, Tomorrowland, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Creamfields just to name a few.

Larger than life hop-hop duo Rae Sremmurd will make their X Games Aspen debut this January with their high energy antics and certified platinum trap anthems. Brothers Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee rose to fame by way of their breakout single and subsequent cultural touchstone ‘No Flex Zone’ under the Ear Drummer Records banner. The track earned them instant status amongst hip-hop royalty with remixes from Nicki Minaj and Pusha-T and co-signs from the likes of Kim Kardashian, Justin Timberlake, Juicy J and more.

Diverse musical programming continues with melodic bass producer ILLENIUM. Leading the live electronic music renaissance with adeptness for creating aural arrangements that vary in style, complexity, and emotional depth, ILLENIUM has developed a new sphere in which sound design can be crafted and experienced. This dedication to pushing sonic boundaries is put on full display in his live show, which incorporates keyboards, drum pads, and cutting-edge lighting and visuals, all of which combine to create an immersive experience. The show has touched down at globally renowned events like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, EDC, Decadence, Electric Forest, Paradiso, Coachella and many more. Last month, ILLENIUM’s third full-length album ASCEND dominated charts, capturing the premiere spot on Billboard’s Top Dance Albums Chart and iTunes Top Dance Albums Chart.

R&B/Pop superstar Bazzi will round out the X Games Aspen 2020 lineup with his captivating lyricism and infectious melodies. One of the biggest breakout artists as of recent, Bazzi catapulted into mega-status with his massive #1 hit “Mine,” now certified three-times platinum. Bazzi solidified his spot as music’s most promising newcomer with his follow-up hit “Beautiful” featuring chart-topping singer/songwriter Camila Cabello. Both tracks are found on Bazzi’s breakthrough debut album, ‘COSMIC,’ which has been streamed more than three billion times.

In conjunction with X Games, Belly Up Aspen will host ILLENIUM on Wed., Jan. 22, Alesso on Fri., Jan. 24, Rae Sremmurd on Sat., Jan. 25 and Bazzi on Sun., Jan. 26. X Games weekend marks 15 years of live music at the iconic venue.

Featured on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of “BEST CLUBS IN AMERICA,” Belly Up Aspen is a 450 capacity music venue at the base of Aspen Mountain. Booking over 300 live concerts a year, they’ve featured musical talents such as LCD Soundsystem, The Chainsmokers, The Killers, Kygo, Snoop Dogg, Martin Garrix, Phoenix, Wiz Khalifa, Calvin Harris, Justice, The Raconteurs and many more. Tickets for all Belly Up Anniversary Weekend Shows available at 2 p.m. on Fri., Sept. 27 at bellyupaspen.com.

Tickets for X Games Aspen 2020 offer fans a unique experiential fusion of globally leading action sports competition and world-class musical offerings at the GEICO Music Stage. While admission to the action sports competitions and festival village are free to the public, tickets to X Games musical performances start at just $25. Fans wanting to experience all four days of action sports and music, an all-music GA ticket is available for $120. Fans purchasing before Dec. 5 will have the opportunity to access the best ticket-price options.

X Games also offers several premium options for fans looking for added amenities, an up-close experience, heated viewing and more.

For the premium action sports viewing experience – the XIP Pass – grants access to the exclusive XIP tower at the base of the SuperPipe. The XIP tower offer guests complimentary gourmet food, beer and wine and the best views of the competitions at X Games Aspen. XIP pass holders will also be treated to athlete meet and greets, a private tour of the SuperPipe and a limited-edition piece of merchandise. The four-day XIP pass will also include Diamond Club music access, while daily XIP passes will grant GA access to the day’s concerts.

For the premium music experience, the Diamond Club provides fans access into the Diamond Club Lounge with deluxe accommodations in addition to heated, elevated viewing at the music stage. This pass grants expedited access into the music venue and access to a private cash bar.

X Games has teamed up with Aspen Ski Company to offer a limited number of College X Pass + Music. College students with a valid student ID have the opportunity to enjoy X Games competition, skiing and snowboarding at ASC’s famed mountains and – new to this year’s pass – X Games Music for just $200. College X Pass holders will receive GA access to all four concerts at Buttermilk Mountain, as well as a two-day lift ticket valid at any of Aspen’s four mountains.

Source: http://www.xgames.com/aspen/

The city of Calgary, Alberta has announced that they have secured the exclusive Canadian rights to host X Games. However, Tourism Calgary and X Games media were unavailable for comment Friday to confirm if they have a firm commitment. Mayor Naheed Nenshi told reporters Friday he has heard concerns about Calgary’s ability to secure a sponsor in time for 2020.

I know that that work continues,” said Nenshi. “I want to remind everyone that the X Games is a multi-year prospect. The hope is to start in 2020, but there was always the consideration that it might have to start in 2021. I’m still hoping we’ll go for 2020.

Through Tourism Calgary, the city said it will invest $1.8 million per year from 2020 to 2022 to support the extreme sports tournament. The promise was made in addition to a $13.5 million commitment by the former government shortly before the provincial election was called.

Now, the newly-elected United Conservative Government is debating whether the financial backing of the Calgary Winter X Games fits within its budget.

“Getting Alberta’s fiscal situation back on track is job number one, but I’m not saying that it won’t move forward. We will take a look at it to whether it’s a good use of tax dollars,” said spokesman Justin Brattinga from Tanya Fir’s office of the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism.

He said the decision won’t be made until late October and while it’s a late date, considering the proposed games are slated to begin next winter, they have no choice but to qualify the necessity of funding considering their mandate to balance Alberta’s budget.

“We definitely support having Calgary on the map as an international sport tourism destination,” said Brattinga, but added that the $13.5 million commitment was only guaranteed if corporate sponsorship was secured.

He wasn’t able to confirm if it has been or not and said the government will take this into account during budget considerations, in addition to the economic impact the games would have on Alberta.

It is estimated the Winter X Games would bring 75,000 spectators to the city each year, pumping approximately $75 million into the economy.

While dates and discipline-related details for the event itself are still to be announced, it’s been revealed that the Stampede Grandstand will serve as the venue for a stadium-style big air, with WinSport Canada’s Olympic Park acting as the likely venue for superpipe and slopestyle. X Games Calgary will be the latest location in X Games’ newest global expansion effort, which in addition to its marquee winter and summer events in Aspen and Minneapolis, includes a winter/summer hybrid event in Norway, a summer event in Sydney, and recently announced winter and summer events in China, which are set to kick off later this year.

Stay tuned for additional info as this story develops, and more on X Games, visit xgamesupdates.com.

The ESPN – Worldwide Leader in Sports is collaborating with a Chinese action sports platform to launch “X Games China.” Under that banner, ESPN and REnextop Entertainment will produce both summer and winter games starting in May.

“China is a significant global market and represents an exciting opportunity to connect the X Games brand to a country with such a profound history, culture and love for sports,” declared Tim Reed, ESPN X Games Vice President.

Shanghai is set to host the inaugural summer games, while officials are searching for a host city for this year’s winter games. The competitions will be televised on local Chinese television, on ESPN’s US platform, and through other international media outlets.

What’s happening:

• For the first time in the X Games’ history of international events, this new collaboration will see both summer and winter events staged within the same country in the same year under the X Games banner.
• The first X Games China event will feature summer sport disciplines and is scheduled for late May in Shanghai.
• The inaugural X Games China winter event is slated for late November to early December, and has begun seeking host city and venue partners in China.
• X Games China will also feature musical performances, art installations and a festival experience.
• X Games China will have a distinctly Chinese flavor, showcasing the beautiful country, cities and culture of China in everything from the course designs to the medals, and highlighting the youth and sports culture in Shanghai throughout the festival village and live coverage.
• The full schedule, venue and ticket information for the X Games China 2019 summer event will be announced in the near future. Additional information on all X Games China events will be forthcoming on https://xgamesupdates.com

Domestically, this year’s X Games will be held in Minneapolis (Summer) and Aspen (Winter).

GETTING TO XGAMES

X Fest Location

X Fest is located inside X games at the base of Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado. X Fest is a FREE interactive festival featuring sponsor activations, entertainment, games, athlete appearances and more. X Fest is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

What are the Transit Option for X Games?

There is NO event parking on-site at Buttermilk Mountain for X Games. FREE Event parking is located at the Brush Creek Intercept Lot at Highway 82 and Brush Creek Road, with complimentary shuttles provided to X games. Paid parking is available in Downtown Aspen and Snowmass Village, with dedicated X games event shuttles departing from Ruby Park (Aspen) and Snowmass Village Mall (Snowmass Village).

Shuttles TO X games

From Brush Creek Intercept Lot, Ruby Park in Downtown Aspen and Snowmass Village Mall
Thursday, January 24th 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday , January 25th 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 26th 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 27th 9:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Shuttles FROM Aspen Highlands

Thursday, January 24th 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday , January 25th 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 26th 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 27th 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Shuttles FROM X Games

To Brush Creek Intercept Lot, Ruby park (Aspen) and Snowmass Village Mall (Snowmass Village). The last bus departs X Games 1 hour after the end of the last competition or concert.
Thursday, January 24th 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Friday , January 25th 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Saturday, January 26th 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Sunday, January 27th 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) provides extensive bus services above and beyond the X Games shuttle schedule listed above. For a complete list of bus stops, day and times thoughout Aspen, Snowmass, Brush Creek Intercept Lot, Basalt and beyond, visit www.rfta.com.

RIDE SHARE

Ride Share & Taxi pic-up and drop off is located across from Buttermilk Mountain at 50 Harmony Road, one block north of Owl Creek Road. Follow the directional signage to legally cross Highway 82, and ONLY cross the highway at marked crosswalks.

Where is the entrance to X Games?

The entrance to X Games Aspen 2019 is at the base of Buttermilk Mountain Ski Resort at the intersection of Highway 82 and Owl Creek Rd.

In 2019, the Winter X Games Aspen 2019 Concerts performances by Lil Wayne, The Chainsmokers, Kygo and Louis The Child. Artists are spread across three days, keeping the momentum up between bouts on the Superpipe and all that. The X Games hits Aspen, Colorado, Thursday to Sunday, Jan. 24 to 27, 2019, though musical performances begin Friday, Jan. 25. Lil Wayne leads the ceremonies, while The Chainsmokers and Louis The Child double headline Saturday, Jan. 26, and Kygo closes the show on Sunday, Jan. 27.

Some of the best action sports athletes in the world will converge on Aspen, Colorado for the Winter X Games 22 from Jan. 25 through Jan. 28. Those athletes will compete in six skiing events, six snowboarding events, two snowmobiling events, and two snow bike events.

 

Events like SuperPipe, SlopeStyle and Big Air are always the highlights of the winter festivities. The action begins Thursday, with television coverage provided by ESPN beginning at 10 p.m. ET and running for about 90 minutes. Winter X Games Aspen 2019 live streaming will be available online at WatchESPN.

There are a variety of ticket packages available, while tickets to the X Games Aspen 2019 concerts start at $30. Check the another post here X Games Aspen 2019 tickets and visit the X Games website for more details and information.

When Are the X Games Aspen 2019 Concerts?

The X Games 2019 hits Aspen, Colorado, Thursday to Sunday, Jan. 24 to 27, 2019, though Concerts begin Friday, Jan. 25. Lil Wayne leads the ceremonies, while The Chainsmokers and Louis The Child double headline Saturday, Jan. 26, and Kygo closes the show on Sunday, Jan. 27. Check complete schedule of X Games 2019 and mark you calendar for it.

What Channels to Watch Aspen 2019 Concerts?

The broadcasting rights to the Winter X Games Aspen Concerts channel for 2019? The performances will take place on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3, with ABC also picking up one event. You can watch ESPN online (+ ESPN2 and ESPN3) and get the ABC live stream from a service called DIRECTV NOW (which offers a free 7-day trial). See the official X Games schedule for more details.. The channels have a long history of broadcasting the Concerts, so it’s not really a surprise.

How To watch X Games Aspen 2019 Concerts Online?

Thankfully, it’s now possible to watch the X Games Aspen 2019 Concerts online, even if you don’t have cable TV! Gone are the days of needing an expensive cable subscription in order to enjoy the best of TV – today, there are several services that will let you watch X Games Concerts streaming from home – we’ll go over the details below!

• DIRECTV NOW: DIRECTV NOW is a great new streaming service that makes it easy to stream X Games concerts coverage live, while also enjoying the latest news, TV shows, movies and more. The service costs $35 a month for 60+ channels, which includes ESPN and ABC (select areas).With DIRECTV NOW, you can watch Aspen concerts on Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, mobile devices, and more. There’s no contract required, and the service is quite easy to use.
• Sling TV: Sling TV will is another good way to watch Aspen 2019 Concerts online. This live streaming service is changing the way people watch TV by providing the best TV channels for just $20 a month, without a cable subscription or long-term contract. You can stream Sling TV on a wide variety of devices, like computers, smart TVs, mobile phones and streaming devices.While cable’s ESPN will be covering the action, you will be able to catch all of the action on Sling TV, a new streaming service from Dish Network that offers live streams of ESPN and about 30 other popular cable channels like AMC, TNT, and HGTV for just $20 per month, no commitment required.
• PlayStation Vue: PlayStation Vue will provide another great way to watch X Games concerts online during X Games 2019. This live streaming service is similar to Sling TV, in that it provides its customers with direct, live access to many popular TV channels. You can use Vue on your PS3 or PS4, or on Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, or iOS devices.Vue offers a few different packages, but even their most basic package is $40 a month and includes access to ESPN and ESPN2. Since these two channels will be hosting the vast majority of X Games coverage, you’ll be able to use Vue to watch concerts streaming at your leisure.

The 23rd edition of ESPN’s annual winter sports competition, X Games 2019, returns to Buttermilk Mountain, Aspen from January 24 – 27 and will host a variety of entertainment and activities suited for the whole family throughout X Fest, located at the base of Buttermilk Mountain. The festival will feature sponsor activation, interactive courses, an awards stage emceed by Chicago-based band, The Flavor Savers, athlete meet and greets, giveaways and the brand new X Trials Obstacle Course.

A new ticket option, X Lift + Music, was also added today, including a two-day adult lift ticket good for any of Aspen’s four mountains plus general admission access to all four shows at Buttermilk for $325. Admission to the action sports competitions and X Fest are free to the public, tickets to X Games musical performances start at just $20. For fans wanting to experience all four days of action sports and music, an all-music GA ticket is available for $120.

In addition to ticket options, X Games is also offering hospitality packages including a 3 Night + 4 Day Platinum Sports & Diamond Club Pass and a 3 Night + 3 Day Platinum Sports Pass. Both options include stays at the historic Little Nell Hotel or Hotel Jerome, along with access to the Platinum Tower.

STUDIO X
Studio X is the new X Games hot spot in X Fest for fans of all ages to step inside the world of X Games. From educational, action sports focused workshops to local headline DJ’s spinning during the nightly Party in the Plaza, Studio X is set to be the “it” X Games hangout.

FILM SERIES IN THE DIAMOND CLUB
Head over to the Diamond Club, located in the music venue adjacent to the GEICO Music Stage, to watch the latest action sports film releases and meet the athletes and filmers creating the video pieces. Additionally, catch a 30-minute block of short films not related to action sports.

ATHLETE EXPERIENCE IN THE DIAMOND CLUB
For the first time, X Games Aspen fans can meet stars up close and personal. X Games host Brandon Graham will introduce Alex Ferreira, Levi Lavallee, Jackson Strong and Barrett Christy for fans to get a chance to ask questions and get autographs while enjoying hot chocolate and popcorn.

X TRIALS OBSTACLE COURSE
The exhilarating X Trials Obstacle Course will test competitors speed, strength and agility. To be rewarded for their skills, fans can run the course, beat their time and earn a spot to compete in the X Trials – Winter Warrior Jr. Final on Friday, Women’s Final on Saturday and Men’s Final on Sunday.

X GAMES ALL ACCESS
Utilize the official X Games Aspen 2019 app to play X Games All Access. Fans can stop by each of the locations listed in the X Games All Access tab of the app to win prizes like Platinum Passes, upgraded music experiences in the Diamond Club, front-of-the-line access to athlete meet and greets and more.

SNOWSKATE PARK
Fans will have the opportunity to learn how to snowskate at the interactive Snowskate Park in X Fest. Additionally, the park will host daily demos and autograph sessions from snowskate pros, as well as a Snowskate Best Trick competition on Sunday.

X FEST SNOWFEST
X Fest Snowfest is the place for snow groms to hang and have fun, featuring activities like remote control snow CATS, snow Strider course and participate in the Shred Hate Snowman Pledge.

X SQUAD
The X Games hype team, X SQUAD, will be roaming X Fest and competition areas throughout the weekend to stoke out the fans. The team engages fans to participate in big-screen games, dance offs and sponsor giveaways.

Ticket information and full music and competition schedules are available at XGames.com/tickets. Admission to X Fest is included with every ticket purchased.
 The X Fest event schedule is as follows (all times in MT):

Thursday, January 24
2:30 p.m. Competition Medal Ceremony
3 p.m. Flavor Savers at the Awards Stage
4 p.m. “All in a Dream” Film Screening and Q&A with Danny Davis at Diamond Club
5 p.m. ZOOM Photo Workshop at Studio X
6:30 p.m. Party in the Plaza DJ at Studio X
10 p.m. Competition Medal Ceremony

Friday, January 25
1:30 p.m. Competition Medal Ceremony
3 p.m. “We Tried” Film Screening and Q&A with Craig McMorris at Diamond Club
4 p.m. Course Builders Design Workshop at Studio X
4:30 p.m. X Trials – Winter Warrior Jr. Final
5:00 p.m. “The Regiment” Film Screening and Q&A with Henrik Harlaut at Diamond Club
6:30 p.m. Athlete Experience at Diamond Club
7:30 p.m. Party in the Plaza at Studio X
9:30 p.m. Competition Medal Ceremony

Saturday, January 26
12:30 p.m. Shorts Block” Film Screening at Diamond Club
3 p.m. Action Sports Industry Conversation at Studio X
4 p.m. Competition Medal Ceremony
4:30 p.m. X Trials – Winter Warrior Women’s Final
7 p.m. Party in the Plaza DJ at Studio X
10 p.m. Competition Medal Ceremony

Sunday, January 27
1:30 p.m. Competition Medal Ceremony
1:30 p.m. Snowskate Best Trick
2 p.m. Art of X Games at Studio X
4:30 p.m. X Trials – Winter Warrior Men’s Final
6 p.m. Party in the Plaza DJ at Studio X
9 p.m. Competition Medal Ceremony

Schedule is subject to change.