Additional Live Competition Exclusively on @XGames Facebook, YouTube and Twitter Pages
X Games Minneapolis 2018 will receive extensive coverage across multiple television and digital platforms July 19 – 22, as the world’s best action sports athletes compete in Skateboard, BMX and Moto X competitions. ESPN and ABC will televise a combined 19 hours of live X Games Minneapolis 2018 coverage, which will also be accessible via the ESPN App to viewers who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
Eight and a half additional hours of event coverage will be streamed live on the X Games Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages to fans in the United States. Fans can get even more X Games content across digital offerings XGames.com, the X Games App and across social media pages. Following X Games Minneapolis 2018, ABC will deliver four hours of anthology programming, two-hours on both Sunday, July 29 and Saturday, August 4 as part of the World of X Games series as well as a one-hour Best of Show featuring highlights from both the sports and music on Sunday, August 5.
In addition to all of the content on ESPN’s U.S.-based media platforms, X Games Minneapolis will be televised globally in 192 countries and territories. This includes live coverage in more than 500 million homes, including fans in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and multiple countries in Europe, including Norway, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Sweden and U.K. X Games fans across Europe, Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia can also watch every event live and on demand on ESPN Player.
Leading live action sports production company, Echo Entertainment, will again work with ESPN to provide live coverage of X Games Minneapolis. With a focus on both the action sports and lifestyle elements of X Games, Echo Entertainment will continue to help rich and in-depth athlete profiles and features highlighting the action sports lifestyle in addition to the live event coverage.
On-Air Talent
Host:
A professional snowboarder, entrepreneur, filmmaker, music festival producer and aspiring musician, Jack Mitrani (@JackMitrani) will return to host X Games Minneapolis. Getting his start producing comedic skits with fellow snowboarders, musicians and celebrities, Mitrani has made a name for himself through producing and starring in original content for his channel, Frendly Presents, and he is also co-owner and producer of the successful Frendly Gathering music festival. A graduate of Stratton Mountain School, Mitrani competed in four X Games events before taking his talents to the telecast booth.
Mitrani will be complemented by a collection of action sports athletes and personalities providing analysis and play-by-play coverage. He will captain the X Games Minneapolis coverage from a host set, which will be the central hub for interviews and the world’s top action sports athletes, musicians, filmers, photographers and personalities.
Commentators/Analysts:
- Brandon Graham – Skateboard (@brando_graham) Graham returns to the X Games Minneapolis 2018 telecast team as play-by-play commentator for all Skateboard events. A part of the X Games team since 2013, Graham has provided skateboard play-by-play for the summer events, X Games Aspen and broadcast duties for the World of X Games serieson ABC.
- Bob Burnquist – Skateboard (@bobburnquist) Retiring from X Games competition after X Games Minneapolis 2017, Burnquist will join the telecast team in 2018 providing analysis for the Skateboard Vert, Park and Big Air competitions. The most-medaled athlete in X Games history with 30, Burnquist was the only athlete to compete at every X Games summer event through Minneapolis 2017. Tied for the second-most gold medals in X Games history, Burnquist has 14 gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals from X Games alone.
- Gary Rogers – Skateboard (@gcode_tb4l) Rogers will provide analysis for the Men’s and Amateur Skateboard Street competitions. Beginning his on-air career with a satirical online skateboarding news program called Skateline, Rogers is an uber fan of skateboarding who offers unapologetic commentary on the space.
- Lyn-z Pastrana – Skateboard (@Lynzskate) Considered one of the top female skateboarders in the world, Lyn-z Pastrana will provide analysis for the Women’s Skateboard Park and Street competitions. An eight-time X Games medalist, Pastrana is a three-time X Games Vert gold medalist.
- Chris “Uncle E” Ernst – BMX (@unclee1969) Widely considered a pioneer of skiercross, Chris Ernst is credited by many for helping to shape a new category of ski racing and forging a new discipline in action sports. A former ski aerialist, Ernst is a live event announcer for numerous sports events and is also the founder of EXP Productions.
- Scotty Cranmer – BMX (@scottycranmer) Cranmer will provide analysis for all BMX competitions in Minneapolis. Starting his career as a BMX racer, Cranmer quickly realized his love of Freestyle. Competing in his first Freestyle competition in 2003, he beat out the best in BMX en route to one of the most stellar rookie years in BMX history. Over 10 years later, Cranmer is a multi-time X Games and Dew Tour winner. With nine total X Games medals, Cranmer owns three Park gold medals.
- Jimmy Coleman – Moto X (@jcnomadic) TV personality Jimmy Coleman has been participating in and covering action sports events for more than a decade. Coleman first joined the X Games broadcast team in 2000 at X Games Six in San Francisco. For the last 18 years, he has acted as play-by-play commentator for all X Games BMX events. For Minneapolis 2018, he will transition over to cover all freestyle motocross events alongside analyst Mike Mason.
- Mike Mason – Moto X (@Mike_Mason81) Mason will provide analysis for the Moto X Freestyle, Best Whip, Best Trick, QuarterPipe High Air and Step Up competitions. Beginning his career as a Motocross racer, Mason’s Arenacross background made his speed and tricks tough to beat en route to four X Games Speed & Style gold medals.
- Scott Deubler – Flat Track (@scottiedeubler) Deubler is a third generation flat-track racer who raced on the professional circuit for nearly a decade. In 2002, he began his career in announcing for events including Monster Jam (2003-2009), Toughest Monster Truck Tour and Monster Nation.
Reporters:
- Craig McMorris – Skateboard (@craigmcmorris) McMorris joined the X Games telecast team in 2015 and is a professional snowboarder and member of the Shred Bots. McMorris got his broadcast break for CBC during the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, where he announced the Snowboard Slopestyle and Halfpipe events. Craig is known for a quick wit and will be producing a variety of skits that will air as part of the television coverage.
- Dianna Dahlgren – Moto X (@diannadahlgren) Hailing from the action sports mecca of Temecula Valley, California, Dahlgren grew up surrounded by motors. At 19 years old, Dahlgren was selected as Miss Monster Energy Supercross. The longest standing Miss Supercross, Dahlgren took on the role of live announcer for Monster Energy Supercross in 2010. Dianna has been a member of the X Games broadcast team since 2017.
- Chris Doyle – BMX (@chris_doyle22) A professional BMX athlete for 19 years, Chris Doyle is a five-time X Games medalist. A trail rider by trade, Doyle medaled in Dirt at X Games for four straight years from 2002-2005. He won his fifth medal in 2015 after a 10-year gap. Recently moving his talents to the broadcast booth, Doyle has provided on-air commentary for Dew Tour and Simple Session events, as well as hosting the X Games Real BMX show as part of the World of X Games on ABC.
- Victoria Arlen – Lifestyle (@arlenv1) Arlen made the transition from professional athlete to reporter and joined ESPN in May 2015 at 20 years old as one of the youngest on-air personalities ever hired. In addition to her duties with the X Games and Special Olympic World Games, Arlen also contributes to espnWand SportsCenter. Victoria’s memoir “Locked In” hits stores August 28.
X Games Minneapolis 2018 telecast schedule is as follows:
DATE/TIME NETWORK COMPETITIONS
Thursday, July 19
10 p.m. – 12 a.m. ESPN Pacifico Skateboard Vert Final
Pacifico BMX Vert Final
Friday, July 20
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. @XGames SoFi Women’s Skateboard Street Qualifier
Fruit of the Loom BMX Dirt Qualifier
3:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. @XGames Monster Energy Men’s Skateboard Street Qualifier
Next X Skateboard Park
Next X Skateboard Street
Women’s BMX Park Demo
BMX Street
Dave Mirra’s BMX Park Best Trick
Moto X QuarterPipe High Air
9 p.m. – 12 a.m. ESPN Moto X QuarterPipe High Air Final
The Real Cost BMX Big Air Final
Moto X Freestyle
Saturday, July 21
1 – 6 p.m. ABC LifeProof Moto X Step Up Final
Toyota Men’s Skateboard Park Final
SoFi Women’s Skateboard Street Final
7 p.m. – 11 p.m. ESPN Fruit of the Loom BMX Dirt Final
Moto X Best Whip Final
Monster Energy Moto X Best Trick Final
The Real Cost Skateboard Big Air Final
Sunday, July 22
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. @XGames Harley-Davidson Hooligan Racing Round 1 & Semifinal
1 p.m. – 6 p.m. ABC Harley-Davidson Flat Track & Hooligan Racing Finals
Women’s Skateboard Park Final
Monster Energy Men’s Skateboard Street Final
Toyota Men’s BMX Park Final
Sunday, July 29
TBD ABC Anthology (TAPED)
Saturday, August 4
TBD ABC Anthology (TAPED)
*Times and events listed are Eastern Time (ET) and are subject to change.
Please consult your local listings.
X Games Headquarters (XHQ)
The X Games Minneapolis telecast will feature a new X Games host set located right on the main concourse overlooking the venue – XHQ – serving as a cultural hub to discuss and explore relevant topics to the action sports community with top X Games athletes, musical talent and featured artists.
Digital
X Games Minneapolis 2018 digital platforms include:
XGames.com
XGames.com will provide onsite coverage from Minneapolis with live results, video of competition runs and full-bleed photo galleries shot by the best creative talent in the action sports industry.
X Games Minneapolis App
The free app, which is compatible with iOS and Android, puts the world’s premier action sports event right at your fingertips, making it easier than ever to access schedules, view the event map and keep up with the top names and hottest news coming out of Minneapolis. Fans can also purchase tickets straight from the app.
ESPN App
Over the four days, the ESPN App will stream live content from ESPN and ESPN Deportes on computers, smartphones, tablets and connected devices. Already the leading sports app, the new ESPN App is the premier all-in-one digital sports platform for fans and a showcase of the company’s culture of innovation. With a richer, increasingly more personalized experience, the new ESPN App curates all of ESPN’s incredible content into an experience unique to each fan’s individual tastes.
Social Media
Stay connected to X Games Minneapolis 2018 and join the conversation using #XGames!
Don’t forget to check out the @XGames Social Media sites for instant event updates, competition results, live video and more!
Facebook: Facebook.com/XGames
Twitter: @XGames
Instagram: @XGames
Snapchat: xgames
YouTube: YouTube.com/XGames
For more information on X Games Minneapolis, go to www.xgames.com.
-30-
Media Contacts:
Danny Chi, ESPN Communications, 213-405-4400; danny.c.chi@espn.com
Grace Coryell, ESPN Communications, 213-405-4402; grace.s.coryell@espn.com
Olivia Wilson, ESPN Communications, 213-405-4145, olivia.wilson@espn.com
-
-
-
-
-
