[Event] X Games 2016: Women’s Skate Preview

Vanessa Torres, taking home bronze in 2015

It’s that time of year again… X Games Austin is going down this weekend and it’s sure to be a historic one as this is the first time X Games will include both Women’s Street and Women’s Park for skateboarding. This is also the last time that X Games will be in Texas as the 3 year run is up for the city of Austin. We love you Austin but the heat is gnar. Fingers crossed for a city with less humidity!! MAHFIA.TV’s film / photo crew (Erik Sandoval, Monique O’Toole and Zorah Quattlebaum) along with myself, will be joining the 28 female skaters invited (12 skaters plus 2 alternates in each discipline) to bring you guys exclusive photos and video highlights from the BEST skating that goes down at practice leading up to the contest. Because truth be told, some of the best shit does go down at practice.

When you get 14 of the best girls in the world together in a perfectly built skatepark for a private session, PROGRESSION happens. I’ve seen a lot of girls skate sessions in the past decade and no doubt — X Games practice sessions are some of the most epic ones. I am particularly excited for the re-introduction of Women’s Park, which will be 2nd time X Games has had women’s park since Barcelona in 2013 where Lizzie Armanto took home gold followed by Julz Lynn and Alana Smith. That was one of my favorite trips, check out a behind the scenes look at our time in Spain with Lizzie and the rest of the girls.

Street Highlights from last year:

Photo Gallery by Nam-Chi Van here

Last year the girls battled the heat and rain delays but in the end Alexis Sablone went big and put together a clean run (landed a huge ollie off the rooftop) and took home the gold. 2nd place went to Pamela who is a super consistent contest skater. Third place went to Meow skateboards team rider Vanessa Torres, OG legend and pioneer who made it back to the podium for the first time in over 5 years. Yeah Vanessa! This year I am excited to watch a fresh faces in the mix including Jenn Soto (New Jersey) and Aori Nishimura (Tokyo, Japan) who earned invites last month in Seattle after competing in the first ever pre-qualifying event for X Games Women’s Street at Skate Like a Girl’s “Wheels of Fortune 7.” Which skaters are you rooting for? Who will take home the cash + coveted hardware?

Last year’s podium: Alexis, Pamela and Vanessa

Meow skateboards team: Mariah, Lacey and Vanessa

Check out more info on the invited skaters as well as practice times via our friends at the Alliance / WSA. Share the insta flyer and make sure to TUNE IN below because VIEWS are important! The higher the views the more valuable women’s skating is for ESPN and this contest IS important for the progression of female skateboarding from the pros to the beginners. The exposure creates support for the pros and that support ultimately allows the top girls to continue to get visibility and opportunities to film/compete/demo which sparks participation and inspires the future generation of female skaters to get on a board. Just ask hoopla skate team rider Alana Smith (the only skater competing in both Street and Park) why she started skateboarding and she will tell you because she saw X Games on TV as a kid. True Story.

Follow and tag @mahfia_tv @thealliance_wsa @girlskatenetwork @xgames #XGWSTREET #XGWPARK and follow me (kimwoozy) on Snapchat for live updates from Austin.

Leticia Bufoni, always a favorite | Photo: Nam-Chi Van

TV AND WEB BROADCAST SCHEDULE HERE

Full schedule of X Games events, live TV + Web broadcast info and music line up here.

MAHFIA will be hosting an after party on Saturday night in Austin. Come hang out with all your favorite skaters! We will be premiering the extended trailer / sneak peak at Quit Your Day Job and raffling off skate decks from Meow and hoopla. Free issues of The Skate Witches Zine and a dance party all night long with Austin local DJ Jeska. No cover | 21+