X Games Minneapolis 2017

For the opening night on Thursday, July 13, fans watched Skateboard Vert and BMX Vert finals outside the U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis. BMX legend Jamie Bestwick won silver, narrowly missing the top spot. In Flat Track riders took to the course outside the famous Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Monster Energy’s Jared Mees took silver and teammate Brad “The Bullet” Baker took bronze setting the stage for a spectacular weekend of action to come.

In BMX Monster Energy dominated with four gold medals. In BMX Big Air James Foster won his first ever gold in the competition – an event in which he had placed third in two previous attempts.

In BMX Park 22-year old Kevin Peraza rode away with the gold taking the victory in convincing fashion, bringing his tech street style to the big transitions of the park course. In BMX Dirt Colton Walker won gold and Kyle Baldock took bronze. Just an hour later Baldock defended his title and also won gold in Dave Mirra’s BMX Best Trick final — his second consecutive. Hailing from Australia, Baldock has earned a reputation as an exciting and innovative rider, both in Park and Dirt riding.

In Men’s Skateboard Street Nyjah Huston settled for bronze claiming his 13^th X Games medal. Tom Schaar claimed his seventh X Games medal and made history as the first competitor to win medals in Skateboard Big Air and Skateboard Park taking silver in both.

Monster Energy’s moto team also had a solid showing with Josh Sheehan taking silver in Moto X Freestyle, and making history by performing a downward 360-seat grab, something no one has ever done before. In Moto X Step Up Bryce Hudson soared to silver topping 43 feet. Hailing in from Australia fearless Jackson “Jacko” Strong never disappoints. Narrowly missing the top spot, the wild man from Australia gave the crowd their money’s worth with a stellar silver medal showing in Moto X Best Trick.

Monster Energy’s sponsored Unknown’s Harley riders Nick Leonetti, Buddy Suttle, and Kade Gates were in Minneapolis doing their incredible wheelie and smoke show for ESPN cameras and the X Games crowd.

Monster Energy also brought in noncompeting Monster Energy athletes to enjoy a weekend at X Games Minneapolis including Luke ‘Dingo’ Trembath, hosting Facebook live, Sage Kotsenburg, snowboarder Sebbe Debuck, snowboarder Zak Hale, snowboarder and Jamie Anderson, snowboarder.

To celebrate their athletes and VIPs, Monster Energy hosted ‘the’ party to hit featuring hip-hop star Fat Joe to an over-capacity crowd.  The Duffle Bag Divas, (DJ twins) were also in the house to set off the evening.  Guests included Monster Energy athletes, Monster Energy Girls, industry VIPs, media and influencers.