27-06-2025
How to watch X Games Salt Lake City Day 1: Competition begins in Utah
The X Games honors its 30th anniversary this weekend in Salt Lake City, where vert ramps meet Vegas-style betting. After a blistering showcase in Osaka last weekend — when tricks evolved, younger riders broke through and 15-year-old Arisa Trew rewrote vert history — the Games return to U.S. soil. And yes, you can bet on it … though not in Utah.
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Friday's schedule offers an exciting variety of events, including Women's Skateboard Park, BMX Dirt and Men's Skateboard Vert. Here's how you can catch all of the heart-stopping thrills.
An all-day digital livestream of Friday's events can be found on the Roku Sports Channel.
Vert does not just open the X Games; it defines them. Before the 900, before mega ramps and before street skating's rise, vert was the foundation. The format demands rhythm, control and amplitude across a full run. Think of it like a pitcher's earned run average over a season rather than a single highlight.
Jimmy Wilkins won six vert golds from 2018 to 2023, but other contenders like Tom Schaar and 16-year-old Gui Khury are gaining ground. Mitchie Brusco and Osaka's Moto Shibata return with distinct styles, and new riders are ready to shake up the podium, too.
Friday's card stretches across surfaces and styles: BMX Street's tight lines, BMX Dirt's flow and Moto X Best Trick, where riders attempt death-defying stunts. Women's Skateboard Park features a strong field with rising contenders, including 16-year-old Cocona Hiraki, who took gold in the event at X Games Japan 2023.
The X Games are not just about tricks. They are about pushing what is possible — on the ramp, the board and the sportsbooks, too.
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(Photo of Arisa Trew: Julian Finney / Getty Images)
