Meet XGames Gold Medalist - Mark McMorris

Mark McMorris may only be 19 years old, but that has not stopped him from becoming one of the biggest names in Snowboarding in a very short time. The Red Bull athlete won the Slopestyle Gold at this year's Winter XGames in amazing style and also just got pipped for the Gold in the Big Air, putting him on top of the leader board in my books!
Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, McMorris reflects on how his unique upbringing paved the way to a successful career as a professional snowboarder.

Winter XGames 2013 Wrap Up!

What an XGames! As I predicted it was the Triple Cork show, with both Ski and Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air dominated by the big trick. But, there was lots more on offer to, check out some of the highlights from an epic XGames...

After so many epic moments it would be really difficult to choose my Top 3, but I got to say after much debate it had to be these three! Shaun White winning a 6th Superpipe Gold Medal, the insane stomp Triple Cork by Horgmo in the Big Air and Henrik Harlaut going massive in the Ski Big Air. Check em out...

Winter Xgames 2013 - Day 1

Day 1 in Aspen and we have already had some crazy action in both Snowboard Super Pipe and of course the mayhem that is Snowmobile Freestyle. In the first final of 2013, it was Red Bull superstar, Levi LaVallee, who stormed the final to win yet another Gold! Check out his winning run...

The Snowmobile competition was pure carnage behind Levi with some monster crashes. Check out the worst ones...


Also on the menu for Day 1, was Mens Snowboard Super Pipe Elimination and all eyes were on the "Flying Tomato", Shaun White, to see what he was bringing to the party in 2013. He was highest out of the Pipe at 5.8m and scored enough in his first run to get through (Lucky to, as he flunked his second run)...


There was also way more going on as per usual at XGames, so check out the Day 1 Highlights...

Xgames 2012 - Day 4, The Climax

The final day at the XGames and once again it was the BMX crew giving me the biggest thrills. BMX big air was absolutely nuts! Defending champion Steve McCann pulls out a no-handed double front-flip leading into a double tail whip on his final run of the GoPro BMX Big Air competition pushing him into 1st. Insane...

The Rally Crew did not want to be left out though and with Travis Pastrana crashing for the second year running, it was left to World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb to show the X racers why he is the king of rally. Ken Block held on with 3 laps to go and a flat rear tire to take the Silver.



How do you put Enduro inside a stadium? Xgames figured it out and Mike Brown won the Gold. This is pretty mental...

 

XGames 2012 - Day 3 Skate & BMX go off!

Day 3 dawned and I left my hacienda "Hotel" in East LA for the Nokia Theater and my highlight by miles for the day, watching the BMX Vert Ramp finals and an XGames legend making history. Jamie Bestwick took down his 6th consecutive Vert ramp Gold Medal. It was amazing to watch, especially considering we never see BMX vert in South Africa.

In the Skate Street final I called Pedro Barros from round 1. The guy was just so fast around the Park and was definitely busting way bigger airs and transfers than anyone else. It was some of the best bowl skating I have seen in a very long time.

XGames 2012 - Day 2, Moto X Step Up & Best trick

Red Bull's Ronnie Renner on his way to a new world record and XGames Gold.

On Day 2 of Xgames 2012 I found myself back at the iconic Staples Center for Moto X Best Whip, Step Up and Best Trick. The whip comp is fun and some of the guys were doing massive whips, but the voting system was definitely flawed as they relied on the audience to vote. Twitch had a huge following in the crowd and that made him the winner. I reckon Cam Sinclair was the best guy by miles, but hey, the system chose it's winner. (Important note that their has been a lot of questions hanging over the judging at this XGames and much discussion that it is all rigged. More on this at a later stage.)

The big surprise for me was how amazing the Step Up competition was to watch live. Normally I am not that taken with this event, but live it was a whole new ball game. I was sitting right in front of the kicker and I can tell you those guys are going Cheech and Chong high. Ronnie Renner had a huge battle with Matt Buyten and ended up with not only XGames Gold but a new World record at 48 Feet High. It was amazing.

After all that excitement it was time for the Best Trick Competition. These guys put everything on the line for 2 runs, most pulling first time tricks. There were plenty of spills and plenty of new tricks. Taking the Gold though was Australian, Jacko Strong, last years winner.  Jacko pulled off a soild body varial combo for Gold. Freestyle winner, Taka Hagashino came in second with an all new Rock Solid Backflip to no Hander. Another amazing event!

 

Poor Clinton Moore just missed making this 720 attempt, then had his bike attack him after the wipe...

 

XGames 2012 - Day 2, Bob Burnquist takes 4th Gold at Big Air

Bob schooled the crop of youngsters, some as young as 11 years old, it simply beggars belief. But the old warrior waxed on with some dominating skating in the final, even carrying a pretty serious injury. Bob is now the King of Big Air!

Xgames 2012 - Day 1

Ok, so as most of you know by now, I have been gallivanting around California for some time now. The primary reason was to cover the XGames in all their glory. Turns out ESPN decided not to give me my press pass (To say I was disappointment was a severe understatement.), but life goes on and luckily I still managed to secure tickets for a couple of events.

I just got back to my hotel after the first of those and it was a big one. The Moto X Freestyle competition was mind blowing. Most of the talk was about Travis Pastrana not being there, but I can tell you that all it meant was that the young guns had their opportunity and two of them took it. Levi Sherwood was commanding and oh so smooth. He came in for the Silver, but I can tell you it was dam close. The man of the night however was the first Japanese Podium finisher in XGames history. Taka Hagashino blew minds here tonight and won the Gold with his first run! I watched him fly above my head (Managed good tickets for this one.) Check out the Gold winning run...

Also today were the Big Air Elimination for the skaters and while I could not watch them live, I got to watch most of show inside the Staples Center on the big screen. Some huge action including two massive 900's. This competition is going to get mad!  Mitchie Brusco and Tom Schaar both pull off 900s in the Skate Big Air Eliminations. These guys are kids, Mitchie is 14! Wild I tell you, just plain wild!

Tomorrow is another day and I will be at all the Moto X action including Step Up, Best Whip and Best Trick. Judging by tonight's action, the Best trick is going to be off the hook. A massive thank you to Red Bull South Africa again for all their help! You guys are awesome.

The Friday Mix with Captain Kai - Xgames, Dane Reynolds & Ultimate X

Welcome to the Friday Mix for this week and what a mix it is. First up the long awaited GOPro video from Ultimate X - we still waiting for the 3D edit - followed by Dane Reynold's highlights from the Quik Pro at Snapper. He did not make Round 4, but hells he did some amazing surfing before being knocked out. Lastly, the king of Superpipe, Shaun White, takes another XGames Gold in France at the European Winter XGames. Shaun posted an almost perfect 98 on his first run to take the victory!



 

 

XGames Real Snow 2012 - Mental Snowboarding

Every winter the good people at X Games run the "Real Snow" Snowboarding competition. Some of the world's best Free riders submit their video sections for the competition and we mere mortals get to vote for the best. The winner takes all and the X games Gold. This is some of the most gnarly urban snowboarding I have seen in a long time!



Skull Candy team rider, Dan Brisse, took the Gold. Check out his section...

The Best of Winter X Games 2012

WOW - that's my first response at this year's Winter X Games. There were so many firsts from Shaun White's perfect 100 score in the Men's Superpipe leading to his 5 Peat, also a first. Then there was the first ever Snowmobile Frontflip for Gold and let's not forget that horrible double backflip attempt that ended in tragedy. Here is the "Best of' video for 2012...



All of these amazing rides, runs and wins were not enough to take my number 1 highlight, which in 2012 went to one man, Mark McMorris. He became the first person to win double Gold at Winter X, by taking out both the Slopestyle and Big Air events. First up was the Big Air where he pulled the first ever Triple Cork in competition...



After the highs of this win, Mark decided it was not enough and he had to ride one of the biggest and cleanest Slopestyle runs of all time. Check out the incredible scale of the giant rail transfer, followed by huge airs over the kickers. All of this added up to the Gold for Mark...



An amazing event and I cannot wait for the Summer Games of 2012!

First ever Snowmobile Front Flip at the Winter X Games 2012

Winter X Games 2012 has been full of huge results and momentous occasions, but this must be one of the biggest! The first ever Front Flip on a Snowmobile in competition, by Heath Frisby, won him a Gold Medal. I will have all the highlights from the Games during the week for you!