Monster Energy congratulates team rider James Foster on a strong bronze medal finish in BMX Big Air at the inaugural X Games Shanghai 2019 today. In a boundary-pushing Big Air session on the giant Mega Ramp that drew massive crowds at the Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone, the 33-year-old from Redlands, California battled the world elite of big ramp BMX freestyle riders to claim his sixth career X Games medal. The first-ever X Games Shanghai 2019 brings the biggest names in BMX, skateboarding and freestyle motocross together for an action-packed weekend. The world’s premier action sports spectacle reaches audiences in China and millions of viewers across the globe via live broadcasts on ESPN and partner networks.
Speaking of spectacle, it hardly gets more spectacular than BMX Big Air. Towering over the X Games event village at a total height of 73 feet, the Big Air ramp proved a crowd magnet on Saturday. Starting from a 59-feet roll-in, BMX riders sent their best aerials over the kicker gap in the structure’s middle – optionally clearing a 50-feet or 63-feet gap – before finishing their runs with massive aerials on the 27-feet quarterpipe. Each rider received four runs to post a high score – composed of the gap and quarterpipe aerials – in a final session featuring ten athletes from three countries, including six American riders, three Australians and one Brazilian.
Monster Energy’s Foster came into the event as a podium threat after winning back-to-back gold at X Games Minneapolis 2017 and 2018, plus silver at X Games Sydney 2018. But past achievements held no
These runs from X Games Sydney BMX Big Air are nothing short of jaw dropping. Watch Morgan Wade, Vince Byron, Mykel Larrin, Ryan Williams, James Foster and more go head to head like true gladiators.
Monster Energy would like to congratulate James Foster for putting on a stellar performance at the X Games Sydney and scoring a silver medal in BMX Big Air in front of a packed house on the final day of competition. The contest was a heated match between some of the world’s best BMX riders who were putting it all on the line for their chance at X Games glory. The competition saw plenty of action from the field of eight who were given four runs to land their best tricks in front of an excited, sprawling crowd in Sydney.
Foster was riding with an unabashed passion and determination and secured the podium with his third run, which consisted of a massive backflip triple tail whip into quad flip that was easily over 13” and he landed super clean.
Judges awarded the veteran 90.33 for his efforts, which was just shy of the gold medal position forcing Foster, the two-time defending champ, to settle for second place.
“I had a crazy morning and was all stressed out,” admitted Foster after the event. “I lost one of my kneepads and had to put on two different ones, so by the time I got over to the venue, they had already started the contest and I only had five minutes until it was my run.”
“I gave it everything I had on my first run, and each run after that,” continued an astonished Foster. “I think I went higher on my third run, but, I couldn’t have possibly hoped for a better day today,
Watch Australian Ryan Williams’ gold-medal-winning run in BMX Big Air at X Games Sydney 2018.
BMX Big Air Finals are happening at noon on Sunday 21 October. The qualification round is behind us and here is how it turned out for BMX in Sydney, Australia. In the BMX Big Air Qualifier, Jaie Toohey earned the final transfer spot, besting fellow Australians Andy Buckworth, Matt Whyatt and Todd Meyn.
BMX Big Air Qualifier
Douglas Oliveira, 74.33 (BRA) Q
Alex Landeros, 71.66 (USA) Q
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.