Monster Mentality

As the world’s most competitive street skateboarder, how does Nyjah Huston manage to perform under pressure and never miss a podium spot in thirteen X Games appearances? Huston made his X Games debut in 2006 at the age of 11and currently holds 15 X Games medals (ten gold, three silver, two bronze). The camera follows the 24-year-old pro street skateboarder as he trains at his private skate facility in Southern California and speaks on subjects such as injury, getting into the ‘zone’ during contest runs, and the constant evolution of riding technique in skateboarding.

Next, the video series puts the spotlight on BMX rider James Foster, who raised the bar by stomping the first-ever quadruple tailwhip to win BMX Big Air gold at X Games Minneapolis 2018. The 33-year-old from Redlands, California, is known for pushing the boundaries of freestyle BMX with trailblazing stunts such as triple backflips. The documentary shows the six-time X Games medalist away from the spotlight, enjoying a session at his regular spot and cruising the streets on his bike. In his candid interview, Foster reflects on his professional career, the push to land never-been-done tricks and his individual approach to maintaining his mental focus in competitions.

Monster Mentality also zooms in on women’s skateboarding ambassador Lizzie Armanto, who took gold in her X Games debut in Barcelona in 2013. The 26-year-old from Santa Monica, California, made history in 2018 as the first female skateboarder to complete the legendary ‘Loop of Death’ obstacle in a challenge hosted by skate icon Tony Hawk and currently endorses a signature colorway of the Vans Slip-On Pro shoe.

We catch up with Lizzie as she dials in new tricks at her local concrete skatepark and shares insights on the importance of individual style, her competitive drive, and the impact of X Games on her professional career.

Last but definitely not least, Monster Mentality goes behind the scenes with freestyle motocross icon Josh Sheehan. An international ambassador for freestyle motocross, Sheehan broke new ground in 2015 by landing the world’s first triple backflip on a motorbike and currently holds eight X Games medals, including one freestyle Moto X gold. Filmed on his training compound in the Australian outback, the 33-year-old goes in search of the origins of his highly competitive nature. In this inspiring feature, ‘Sheeny’ also reveals the personality traits that propelled his career to the top and shows how he builds the mental and physical fortitude required to compete at an X Games level. 

Watch all four videos in the Monster Mentality series now for free on the Monster Energy YouTube channel. Also make sure to tune in from August 1–4 for X Games Minneapolis 2019 when Huston, Armanto, Foster, Sheehan and other award-winning Monster Energy athletes will be battling for X Games medals at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.