The XGames Experience: A Memory to Last a Lifetime

As the snow slowly falls onto the halfpipe, I hear the announcer's voice and the distant sound of private jets taking off. In a flash of an eye, a skier whips midair before me and spins in the sky, which feels like an eternity but is gone in an instant, followed by the sound of a roaring crowd. This was one of the most surreal moments in my life. Athletes were pushing the limits of human capabilities and dyeing gravity. Little did I know this would be the start of a new passion.

These moments that I got to experience are from one of the most significant events yearly for professional snowboarders and skiers, the XGames. You have probably heard people say, “You're on XGAMES MODE.” Well, this is where it comes from. XGames has been around since 1995, showcasing the most prominent snow athletes in the world. It was first known as the “Extreme Games”. In addition, they host summer events for skateboarding, BMX, and motocross. It has been held in Aspen, Colorado, since 2002, drawing the attention of many celebrities and thousands of fans. I got to experience this event for the second time with a media credential, but this time was different. It is an entirely different world inside the ropes of a sporting event and will give you moments that will last you a lifetime. Access to places off-limits from fans helped me learn more about the athletes and the pressures that they face.

While interacting in the media-only corrals, I was surrounded by nervous and chaotic feelings of staff and athletes. After a run was finished, the top three athletes were bombarded with media staff and TV station cameras shoved in their faces; I couldn't imagine the pressures that they had to deal with. I had the privilege to interact with these athletes one-on-one without any additional media or cameras in their faces. It is like being in an entirely different world. They switch on a distinct personality different from what they appear to be on TV. One prime example is Red Gerard, a local Coloradian snowboarder who has competed in XGames for many years. I had the opportunity to interview him, and for the first time this year, he won his first gold medal, which he has been working on for many years. After he took his victory round, I got to chat with him for a few minutes. He was such a down-to-earth and relaxed person willing just to chill and talk with you about anything much different from what they appear to be on TV, where they have concise press-required answers. During this light-hearted conversation, I got to ask him fun questions, like who he was rooting for in the Super Bowl. We both agreed that we strongly dislike the Chiefs. In the previous year, I interacted with Marcus Kleveland, a decorated XGames athlete who has won multiple gold medals and has a massive fanbase. While chatting with him, he was also very down-to-earth, and he cared more about our experience than how his events went; he even remembered us when I came back up to him a while later. This proves that these professional athletes are just human, and like everyone else, they are just trying to have a good time! Hearing these athletes' stories and many others sparked my new passion to work in the sports industry and help them tell their stories.

Before XGames, during Christmas time, I bought my first camera. This is something that I had been wanting to do for a long time. After watching countless hours of TikToks of sports photography and videography, I finally saved enough money to pull it off. XGames was the first time I used this camera, and when I started taking pictures, I felt like I was immediately in my element. After being in a media capacity from the previous year, I knew the best places to position myself and let God do the work from there. As I captured the breathtaking action and emotion of the athletes, I started to realize the beauty of sports and why millions of people watch it every year. One of my favorite moments was when I was on the edge of the halfpipe with athletes hundreds of feet in the air and the rapid-fire sound of the shutter speed of my camera during the silence before they hit the ground. Another of my favorite moments was capturing photos of the athletes on the podium; seeing the excitement and joy in their eyes made every moment worth being there. 

This opportunity taught me many lessons, from interacting in a professional media setting to adjusting the shutter speed for shooting in the dark. XGames Aspen will become one of my favorite memories and a jumpstart to one of my favorite passions in life. Beyond my photo and video skills, this experience helped me understand the importance of capturing the moments and others being able to resonate with them. This is a prime example of how we can turn our dreams into reality through our passions and many more events to come. I'm genuinely grateful to be given this opportunity through CougMedia and FSPN!