With the X Games upon us, myself and Brad Jay, the voice of the games, got our head together to make a few predictions. Check back and see how we did in 5 days.
Skate Big Air
Athletes: Pedro Barros, Jake Brown, Bob Burnquist, Pierre-Luc Gagnon, Rob Loriface, Andy MacDonald, Edgard Pereira, Adam Taylor, Lincoln Ueda, Danny Way
Tyler Tate: Jake Brown
Reason Why: As the returning champion from 2009 Skate Big Air, Jake Brown feels like he needs to redeem the win. A part of him feels that Bob Burnquist should have won last year and he wants to show that he is at the top and can do it without controversy.
Brad Jay: Bob Burnquist
Reason Why: Because he has is own mega ramp in his backyard
Skate Park Men
Athletes: Pedro Barros, Chad Bartie, Bob Burnquist, Curren Caples, Jake Duncombe, Rune Glifberg, David Gravette, Omar Hassan, Ben Hatchell, Bucky Lasek, Johnny Layton, Andy MacDonald, Andrew Langi, Alex Olson, Alex Perelson, Collin Provost, John Rattray, Keegan Sauder, Ryan Sheckler, Tony Trujillo
Tyler Tate: Ryan Sheckler
Reason Why: Two-time XG gold medalist, Sheckler is having his first healthy season in three years. Ryan has come back strong finishing 2nd at the Boston Dew Tour in June.
Brad Jay: Rune Glifburg
Reason Why: Because he can skate everything, plus he helped design the park course so he knows it in and out!
Skate Street
Athletes: Brian Anderson (USA), Mark Appleyard (CAN), Justin Brock (USA), Nick Dompierre (USA), Corey Duffel (USA), Adam Dyet (USA), Stefan Janoski (USA), Nyjah Houston, Johnny Latyon, Sean Malto, Shane O’Neill, Alex Olson, Chaz Ortiz, Peter Ramondetta, Roldolfo Ramos, Leo Romero, Omar Salazar, Bastien Salabanzi, Nick Trapasso, Ryan Sheckler, Jamie Tancowny
Tyler Tate: Bastien Salabanzi
Reason Why: Back to riding competitions in 2010 and looking great in the Boston dew tour stop, this technical rider will have his southern California home crowd behind him and will use that energy for the win.
Brad Jay: Bastien Salabanzi
Reason Why: Because he is just that good, the flying French man will kill it.
Skate Vert
Athletes: Pedro Barros (Alternate), Marcelo Bastos, Bob Burnquist, Sandro Dias, Pierre-Luc Gagnon, Bucky Lasek, Andy MacDonald, Danny Mayer, Rob Loriface, Alex Perelson, Shaun White
Tyler Tate: Shaun White
Reason Why: If he is healthy after pulling out from the Boston Dew Tour, Shaun is looking to make the first big splash to kick his summer season off. Expect consistency with big air and huge rodeos
Brad Jay: Pierre Luc Gagnon
Reason Why: Coming off two wins already Asian X Games and Boston. Dude has a big bag of trick fo sho!
BMX Big Air
Athletes: Andy Buckworth, Alan Cooke (Alternate), Chad Kagy, Steve McCann, Anthony Napolitan, Kevin Robinson, Morgan Wade
Tyler Tate: Kevin Robinson
Reason Why: Guinness Record holder of the biggest air and the only rider to land the double flair. Enough Said.
Brad Jay: Kevin Robinson
Reason Why: He has the biggest no handed flair you have ever seen on the 27 foot quarter pipe
BMX Park
Athletes: Brett Banasiewcz, Drew Benzanson, Cory Bohan, Diogo Canina, Scotty Cranmer, Rob Darden, Daniel Dhers, Brandon Dosch, Chris Doyle, Dennis Enarson, Ryan Guettler, Chase Hawk, Dave Mirra,, Andy Buckworth (Alternate), Ryan Nyquist, Garrett Reynolds, Geoff Slattery, Jeremiah Smith, Morgan Wade, Mark Webb, Gary Young, Craig Mast (Alternate)
Tyler Tate: Morgan Wade
Reason Why: Morgan is considered a wild rider who brings all eyes to the course when he drops in. Driven more by the desire to have fun and push his limits than to play it safe for consistent contest results, he is full of surprises. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t, but everyone will be talking about what he did regardless.
Brad Jay: Daniel Dhers
Reason Why: Because he is hungry for his 1st win.
BMX Vert
Athletes: Jamie Bestwick, Vince Byron, Chad Kagy, Steve McCann, Dennis McCoy, Kevin Robinson, Simon Tabron, Jimmy Walker, Tim Wood, Coco Zurita
Tyler Tate: Jamie Bestwick
Reason Why: 5 straight Dew Tour cup wins, 1 win already this season, it’s gonna be the grand slam for Jamie this year
Brad Jay: Jamie Bestwick
Reason Why: Nobody can stop him
Moto Best Trick
Athletes: Taka Higashino (Alternate), Rich Kearns (Alternate), Kyle Loza, Clint Moore, Travis Pastrana, Todd Potter, Paris Rosen, Cameron Sinclair, Jack Strong, Blake “Bilko” Williams
Tyler Tate: Paris Rosen
Reason Why: No handed front flip!
Brad Jay: Travis
Reason Why: Because he will land the infamous TP Roll
Moto Best Whip
Athletes: Beau Bamburg, Josh Grant, Josh Hansen, Jarryd McNeil, Todd Potter, Jeremey Stenberg
Tyler Tate: Todd Potter
Reason Why: Do I hear three-peat? He rarely competes anywhere but X, and he is a showman and competes well under the pressure
Brad Jay: Todd Potter
Reason Why: He has the whips on lock down
Motocross Freestyle
Athletes: Nate Adams, Rob Adelberg (Alternate), Lance Coury (Alternate), Nixey Danielson (Alternate), Take Higashino, Adam Jones, Robbie Maddison, Mike Mason, Jim McNeil (Alternate), Todd Potter, Travis Pastrana, Mat Rebeaud, Jeremy Stenberg, Eigo Sato, Levi Sherwood, Jackson Strong, Dany Torres, Andre Villa, Brody Wilson
Tyler Tate: Travis Pastrana
Reason Why: After being off the podium last year Travis is here to get the top spot this year. With another year underneath him and time to develop the final few touches on his tricks, expect big air and massive combinations.
Brad Jay: Nate Adams
Reason Why: Just missed the win last year, this year Bilko is out opening up the door for the destroyer.
Motocross Step Up
Athletes: Max Anstie, Nate Adams, Brian Deegan, Ronnie Renner, Josh Hansen, Josh Hill, Kevin Johnson, Mike Metzger, Travis Pastrana, Mat Rebeaud, Cole Seely, Jeremy Stenberg, Ivan Tedesco, Aron Harvey (Alternate)
Tyler Tate: Ronnie Renner
Reason Why: Experience and passion is going to get Ronnie up and over the top this year. He was a finalist last year in X Games 15, look for him to go big.
Brad Jay: Ronnie Renner
Reason Why: With The G.O.A.T. out, no more double gold’s here. Ronnie who’s your daddy Renner will be victorious.
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