Monster Energy Is Ready to Bring the Stoke to Summer X Games

Jul 18, 2022

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 1572 times

The biggest showcase in action sports is officially back! From July 20-24, X Games 2022 will host BMX, Skateboard and Moto X competitions at three unique athlete training facilities in Southern California. Monster Energy, the official energy drink partner of X Games, is ready to bring the stoke with its team of top athletes and multiple X Games gold medalists to this history-making sports spectacle. The 65th edition of X Games will be closed to the public with no spectators in attendance. Medal events will be contested at three unique athlete training facilities around Southern California and broadcast live to global audiences.

Fans can look forward to witnessing action sports history written by the world elite in all three sports:

More than 110 athletes from 14 countries will compete for a total of 57 medals across 19 medal disciplines. Next to 18 live events, X Games 2022 will also crown medalists in the Skateboard Real Street Best Trick contest at an undisclosed street spot.

Two Monster Energy athletes are opening their private training facilities as competition sites: On July 20, five-time X Games gold medalist Elliot Sloan will host Skateboard Vert competitions and debut the first MegaPark ramp at X Games in his “Sloanyard”. On July 21, Axell Hodges’ legendary “Slayground” compound will once again showcase Moto X competitions, plus BMX Dirt. And from July 22-24, the California Training Facility (CATF) will feature Skateboard and BMX competitions in Street as well as Park disciplines.

Over the course of five action-packed days, more than 15 hours of the best X Games 2022 competitions will air on ESPN, ABC and ESPN2, as well as ESPN+ and the ESPN App. All competitions will stream live on ESPN+ and be available on @XGames YouTube. X Games content will also be presented across the globe through international syndication partners.

X Games 2022 is once again contested as an invite-only event and reserved for multiple-time X Games medalists and highly competitive newcomers. As the official drink sponsor of X Games 2022, Monster Energy is looking forward to raising the bar with a heavy-hitting team of athletes and defending gold medalists in these key events:

For something completely unprecedented, the action will move to the first and only MegaPark ramp in X Games history for the BMX MegaPark event. Taking on the massive course with a centerpiece gap jump and vert quarterpipe will be no other than Monster Energy’s Pat Casey ready to add to his four X Games medals. Also putting on their big ramp boots, Andy Buckworth, Daniel Sandoval, and Bryce Tryon are ready to send it in the new discipline.

Just in time for X Games 2022, the Slayground has been updated with a competition-grade BMX Dirt course. The big question in the event: Will team Monster Energy repeat last year’s full podium sweep courtesy of Pat Casey (gold), Bryce Tryon (silver), and Ben Wallace (bronze), Not if team rider Daniel Sandoval has a word, especially after just claiming the overall series win in the 2022 Monster Energy BMX Triple Challenge. What’s more, this could be the year for Canadian rider Mike Varga to add his first BMX Dirt medal to his record.

Switching gears back to motorized competitions, the fun and innovation-centered Moto X 110’s discipline on smaller bikes makes a return to X Games. Prepare for a wild ride as last year’s gold medalist Axell Hodges flexes his freestyle skills against Jarryd McNeil and BMXer Pat Casey.

On Friday, a weekend of BMX and Skateboard action kicks off at the high-tech California Training Facility (CATF) in Vista. As the training center for Team USA, the facility features both full-sized concrete Street and Park courses created by the designers of X Games Street and Park courses.

As the day’s only competition event, BMX Street features the world elite of street riding. Athletes to watch include last year’s silver medalist and Monster Energy rider Felix Prangenberg, who already owns three X Games medals (1 gold, 2 silver) and has his eyes on the top spot. His competition includes the bronze medalist from X Games 2021, BMX whiz kid Alex Donnachie from Scotland (ed note; Injured actually). Also brace yourself for Australian team rider Lewis Mills looking to improve on silver from Sydney 2018, while Kevin Peraza is set on claiming his first-ever Street medal.

When the action moves into BMX Park, keep an eye on Monster Energy team rider Justin Dowell from Virginia Beach, who caused an upset by claiming silver in his debut at X Games Chiba 2022. Of course, never count out the Monster Energy trip responsible for sweeping the podium at X Games 2021: Kevin Peraza (gold), Pat Casey (silver), and Mike Varga (bronze). Plus, with the addition of previous BMX Park gold medalist Daniel Sandoval and 2019’s bronze medalist Jose Torres from Argentina to the mix, the pieces are in place for a history-making event.

On that note, a big day at the CATF will conclude with the Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick contest. Prepare for trick innovations galore as last year’s gold medalist Mike Varga holds it down against Pat Casey and Daniel Sandoval, the latter having claimed silver at X Games 2019. Also watch for young gun and Monster Army graduate Jeremy Malott, who claimed bronze in the event at X Games 2021.