X Games, the leading action sports content provider and event producer, announces its plans for the world’s most elite action sports athletes to light up the Southern California coast with a series of engaging events spanning from San Diego to Ventura. This July, X Games California 2023 will make a triumphant return to the roots of action sports inviting beloved fans back to the live action.
“I am looking forward to seeing X Games return to a big fan experience, and to celebrate skateboarding like never before,” said 10-time X Games gold medalist Tony Hawk. “And I hope I can come up with some new tricks by then.”
This summer will mark the first time in three years since X Games fans came together to enjoy Skateboard, BMX, and Moto X competitions in a large event format, complete with a fan festival and music performances. Ventura, California will serve as the final stomping ground and last stop of the tour for the world’s best action sports superstars to compete at the Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center from Friday, July 21 – Sunday, July 23, 2023. The weekend will feature competitions, an interactive festival, and live music over the course of three days.
“Our city has a long history of supporting big events, and it is an honor to be selected by the X Games to host this prestigious international competition in July,” Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder said. “We look forward to welcoming thousands of athletes and fans to our community and showing the world all the unforgettable things Ventura has to offer.”
“We are thrilled to return to the home of action sports this summer. We are reimagining events along the coast of California and strengthening the fan experience whether you’re watching live in-person or on broadcast,” said Steve Flisler, X Games CEO. “Ventura is rolling out the red carpet. It provides the ultimate ocean and mountain backdrop to showcase never-been-done tricks and the progression of action sports, celebrating the greatest athletes on the planet in their respective disciplines.”
X Games is partnering with Visit California and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner for a summer campaign to bring awareness to fans in the surrounding area and to provide a sustainable way to travel up the coast to each of the X Games events. The Pacific Surfliner is the second busiest Amtrak route in the country and one of the most scenic train routes in America. The train travels along the Southern California coast, through diverse landscapes that include beaches, low mountain passes, and agriculture. The Ventura stop is part of the Fairgrounds parking lot and will drop fans off a few feet away from where finals weekend will take place.
“For decades, California has been the epicenter of action sports, producing some of the most talented athletes in the world. It’s only fitting that the X Games make their way back to the ultimate state for play to celebrate the culture that inspired these incredible events,” said Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta. “We’re honored to host the X Games in Ventura and can’t wait to see the next generation of extreme athletes take the stage.”
X Games California officially kicks off in San Diego on Sunday, July 16, with Real Street and Real BMX Best Trick contests. Ten of the best street athletes from both skateboard and BMX will battle for the first gold medals of X Games California 2023. Continuing its tour up the coast, X Games also will host a pop-up event and competition with a kick-off launch party in Los Angeles during the following week before culminating in three days of competition in Ventura.
The waitlist for X Games California 2023 is now open! Click here to join the waitlist to get early access to tickets. Tickets go on public sale on Wednesday, May 10, at 9 a.m PST.
The Gold Medal events will air live on ABC and ESPN networks and streamed online.
The X Games California 2023 summer edition will feature a full slate of events, including the below to be revealed in coming weeks:
- Skateboard: Park, Street, Street Best Trick, Vert, Vert Best Trick
- BMX: Park, Park Best Trick, Street, Dirt, Dirt Best Trick
- Motocross: Best Trick, QuarterPipe High Air, Best Whip
X Games 2023 Invited Athletes include these 2022 Gold Medalists:
BMX Park, Logan Martin
Dave Mirrra BMX Park Best Trick, Mike Varga
BMX Street, Garrett Reynolds
BMX Dirt, Dawid Godziek
Moto X Best Whip, Julien Vanstippen
Moto X Best Trick, Rob Adelberg
Moto X QuarterPipe HIgh Air, Colby Raha
SKB Men’s Street, Shane O’Neill
SKB Women’s Street Momiji Nishiya
SKB Street Best Trick Jamie Foy
SKB Men’s Park, Kieran Woolley
SKB Women”s Park, Sky Brown
SKB Men’s Vert, Jimmy Wilkins
SKB Vert Best Trick, Elliot Sloan
The X Games summer season is starting earlier than ever before, giving action sports athletes and fans even more opportunity to attend or view a new generation of athletes and legends.
The first stop on the road to X Games is X Games Japan on May 12-14, with over 100 athletes in Skate, BMX and Moto X. The event will be broadcast on ESPN networks and livestreamed and Tony Hawk makes his return to compete in Skateboard Vert Best Trick in Japan. The Tony Hawk Vert Alert is the next stop on June 22-23 in Salt Lake City and will qualify the top three men and top three women to compete in X Games California.
The full schedule of X Games California 2023 events, sponsors and athletes will be announced in the coming weeks.
Quotes:
- Bryce Wettstein, X Games Skateboarder
“I am so excited for X Games to come to Ventura! I love any excuse to visit Ventura. I first traveled to Ventura at age 9 to surf in a WSA surf contest, and then we would go every year for the same contest and NSSA until I was age 17. The beaches are so pretty and C Street and Surfer’s Point at Seaside Park are such fun surf spots. Ventura is a quaint little beach town right on the ocean, with lots of great fish restaurants and fun breweries. You can walk almost everywhere through the small downtown. There’s also a long pier you can walk out on too. There’s also at least 6 skateparks in Ventura as well. I really enjoy Ojai park. The drive to Ventura is also very scenic along 101 coast highway. I know my family and I are planning on making a fun family trip for this X Games!
- Curren Caples – X Games Skateboarder
“I’m hyped to have X Games coming to my hometown!!”
- Dennis Enarson, X Games BMX
“X Games back in Southern California is so amazing to me! The first time I ever saw BMX was at the San Diego X Games, now it feels like it’s gone full circle!”
- Ruby Lilley, X Games Skateboarder
“I’m really looking forward to the X Games coming to Ventura this summer. I’m also super excited to see all the new courses X Games is building for Ventura.”
Axell Hodges, X Games Moto X
- “After two years at the Slayground, it’s actually going to be really dope to ride in front of thousands of fans again at Ventura X Games. I’m stoked!”
- Joe Schroeder, Ventura City Mayor
“Our city has a long history of supporting big events, and it is an honor to be selected by the X Games to host this prestigious international competition in July,” Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder said. “We look forward to welcoming thousands of athletes and fans to our community and showing the world all the unforgettable things Ventura has to offer.”
- Marlyss Auster, CEO/President Visit Ventura
“This has been a vision of mine, the Visit Ventura team, and Ventura partners to build relationships to bring an internationally recognized event to Ventura. The brand alignment is spot on and I am thrilled that the X Games will be a part of the fabric of our community. Needless to say, this is the result of an enormous amount of support, collaboration, and passion. We can’t wait for the X Games athletes, media, sponsors and enthusiastic spectators to meet our Ventura. It really is happening and it is going to be amazing!”
- Stacy Rianda, CEO Ventura County Fairgrounds
“The Ventura County Fairgrounds feel privileged and honored to have been selected as the site for the 2023 Summer X Games! This is an opportunity to bring something very unique and exciting to the city and county of Ventura! We couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of it!”
- Matt Lavere, County Supervisor Board Chair
“As the former Mayor of Ventura, I worked closely with Visit Ventura as we engaged in discussions with X Games about Ventura hosting the Summer X Games. Those discussions focused on Ventura’s beautiful coastal setting as a draw to attendees and potential for innovative programming, strong track record of hosting large events, proximity to Los Angeles, and our well-recognized reputation and familiarity within the extreme sports community. Ventura is proud to host the Summer X Games.”
- Akbar Alikhan, Interim City Manager
“We are excited to welcome the X Games to Ventura – a city that offers the ultimate playground for extreme sports enthusiasts. The surf and skate culture is a key part of our community’s ethos and naturally complements the energy and excitement of an international competition like the X Games,” said Ventura Interim City Manager Akbar Alikhan. “Ventura has all the makings in place to create an unforgettable experience for athletes, fans, and visitors alike. From our unique community charm and scenic oceanside views to a thriving downtown scene and a wealth of music venues, parks, theaters, shops and restaurants – Ventura is an unforgettable destination.”
- Ed Wehan, Chair Visit Ventura
“Ventura is excited to have the X Games as part of its community. X Games embodies the adventuresome spirit and inherent love of outdoor activities that we’re known for. Ventura has a tremendous history of competing and participating in daring sporting events and we are thrilled to have X Games part of the Ventura story.”
- Jason Jewell, Managing Director of the LOSSAN Agency
“We’re proud to support X Games and Visit Ventura by helping event attendees travel to the games sustainably by train,” said Jason Jewell, Managing Director of the LOSSAN Agency, which manages the Pacific Surfliner service. “We look forward to offering riders a fun and relaxing journey to the Ventura Station, only steps away from the event venue.”
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