Watch the X Games?

So did you watch the X Games?

I saw a few segments: the men’s one-trick competition, the men’s superpipe final, some slopestyle heats, and perhaps the skiers slopestyle.

Even though I can’t do any of those tricks–and given the risk of injury had I tried, I don’t really want to attempt them–I can enjoy them. It’s much like watching a PGA professional stick a fairway shot to three feet within the hole. I frequent similar venues and use similar equipment, but the results just aren’t the same.

Last year I put together a list of 30+ year old competitors in the X games. Of the 18 podium slots available to snowboarders (men’s and women’s superpipe, slopestyle, and boardercross), only one was snared by a 30+ rider, 30-year old Soko Yamaoka, who took third in the women’s superpipe competition.

It looks like this year’s version of the official site, EXPN.com, doesn’t have bios of every invited rider. If you happen across a link, drop me a line in the comments.