X Games Brings Action, Music & Style to Austin

It was just two summers ago that I wrote about the evolution of ESPN's X Games, not just the growing popularity of the competition but also the maturation of its fan base. As X Games reached its 18th birthday in 2012, it seemed its overall style had also reached a point of adulthood.


X Games took place at Circuit of the Americas, home to the U.S. Formula 1 race

But after a bit of an overreach with the now-curtailed expansion into international markets like Brazil, France, Germany and Spain, X Games appears to be getting back to the basics here in the US. Last year, Austin won a stiff competition over major cities around the country to become the new destination for the summer X Games event, ending a long run in trendy Downtown Los Angeles.


Skateboard Big Air competitor Trey Wood takes flight in Austin

Partnered with my photographer friend Gary Williams we spent last weekend in Austin, my hometown, to see if this relocation hindered the X Games style scene. In short, it didn't.

With hot temperatures to greet the athletes and spectators (plenty of whom made the trek from California) and the introduction of a music festival featuring the likes of Kanye West and Pretty Lights, there was plenty of fashion sense to go around.


Kanye West's performance at X Games with new wife, Kim, in attendance


Chantell Moody, a singer and guitarist for The Digital Wild


Ishani Ishaya, a belly and fire dancer based in Austin


(from l-r) Univerity of North Texas students Reegis Wheatfall, Eric Sampson, Fiyin Abraham and Michael Jordan


Alyssa Olson, playing cornhole in between some X Games action


Justin Allen, a student at the University of Texas at Austin


Eliana Sosco, a Brazilian skateboarder and X Games competitor


Maddie McGovern, a Chicagoan who made the trip down for X Games


Some 160,000 fans turned out for the X Games debut in Austin