The Asian X Games will be held in China for the first time in X Games history. What can you expect and who will be there?
The most prestigious multi-discipline action sports event in all of Asia is gearing up for its 2007 season. X Games Asia is scheduled to take place on May 3-5, 2007. Over 200 athletes from 20 countries will be on hand to compete for the $100,000 (U.S.) prize purse as well as the gold medal.
Currently in its ninth year, the Asian X Games is sponsored by Kia Motors and EPSN International. This year the Games will take place in Shanghai, China. This is the first time the X Games have been held in the People's Republic of China, which will host the competition through the year 2009.
Athletes will compete in a variety of sports including some of the usual favorites and events that may be new to some action sports fans. The following disciplines are on the line-up for X Games Asia:
- Aggressive Inline Skating- Park
- Aggressive Inline Skating- Vert
- Skateboarding- Park
- Skateboarding- Vert
- BMX Freestyle- Park
- BMX Freestyle- Vert
- Sports Climbing- Flash Bouldering (Men's and Women's)
- Sports Climbing- Speed (Men's and Women's)
- MotoX (demo)
Fans can expect to see medal winners and fan favorites from previous X Games. Among the invited riders in BMX are Ryan Guettler, Chad Kagy, Danny Dhers and Colin Mackay. Participants in the skateboarding events include Jereme Rogers and Sandro Diaz.
Events finals will be held at the following dates and times:
- May 3- 11:30 am-12:30 pm Women's Sport Climbing, Speed
2-3 pm BMX Vert
- May 4- 11:30-12:30 Men's Sport Climbing, Speed
2-3 pm Aggressive Inline, Park
5-6 pm BMX Park
- May 5- 10:00-11:00 Women's Flash Bouldering
11:30-12:30 Skateboard Park
3:30-4:30 Men's Flash Bouldering
5-6 pm Skateboard Vert
The X Games were the first major competition for action sports athletes. Developed by EPSN, the first X Games were held in the US in 1995. Since that time the X Games have grown to include a greater variety of sports and now includes events for seasonal and regional sports. X Games competitions and demonstrations are held throughout the world including Dubai, Mexico, Thailand and Spain. In 1998, the Asian X Games debuted. In addition to this year's venue of Shanghai, China, the Asian X Games have been held on Phuket Islands, Thailand ('98-'01), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ('02-'04) and in Seoul, South Korea (2005).
If you are lucky enough to be in the Shanghai area, the Asian X Games will be held in the KIC Jiangwan Sports Centre (No. 346 Guohe Road). For more information on the location, schedule and tickets, go to the Kia X Games Asia website. Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter so that you can get up-to-date information on your favorite sports and athletes.
