Athletes Announced for X Games Minneapolis 2017 Press Conference

X Games

Athletes Announced for X Games Minneapolis 2017 Press Conference

Wednesday, July 12 at 2 p.m. CT at U.S. Bank Stadium

WHAT: The official X Games Minneapolis press conference kicks off with the world’s top action sports athletes and accomplished X Games medalists. Executives from ESPN and U.S. Bank Stadium will also be present for interviews. The event will be emceed by the host of X Games Minneapolis, Jack Mitrani.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 12 from 2 – 3 p.m. CT
WHERE: East Main Concourse above sections 118 to 120 at U.S. Bank Stadium

WHO: Top X Games athletes and executives from ESPN and U.S. Bank Stadium.

 

Athletes confirmed to attend include:

  • Kyle Baldock (Gold Coast, Australia) / Fruit of the Loom BMX Dirt & Toyota BMX Park – The first BMX rider to win two gold medals at the same X Games event since Kevin Robinson in 2006, Baldock has taken five total X Games gold medals, including the golden pedal in the inaugural Dave Mirra’s BMX Park Best Trick. He also added a bronze last year in BMX Park.
  • Alec Majerus (Rochester, Minnesota, USA) / Monster Energy Men’s Skateboard Street – Known as technical skater favoring rails and big drops, Majerus owns a bronze medal in Skateboard Street from X Games Austin 2014 and also participated in the World of X Games Real Street 2016 competition. Majerus established himself as a premier pro, producing three video parts for Adidas, Volcom and Real Street 2016.
  • Tom Schaar (Cardiff, California, USA) / America’s NAVY Skateboard Big Air & Toyota Men’s Skateboard Park – Five-time X Games Big Air medalist and 17-year old skateboard prodigy, Tom Schaar, started competing at X Games in 2012, and he’s in the record books. He was the first to land a 1080 on a skateboard (March 2012), and the first to land it in a contest. He recently qualified in first place at the Road to X: Boise Qualifier.
  • Jackson Strong (Lockhart, New South Wales, Australia) / Pacifico Moto X Freestyle & Monster Moto X Best Trick – Always a crowd favorite, Strong is the defending Moto X Best Trick gold medalist. The first rider to land a front flip at X Games, Strong led an Australian Best Trick podium sweep in 2011. He took home gold again the following year with the first-ever “The Jack” body varial.
  • Josh Sheehan (Donnybrook, Australia) / Moto X Freestyle – One of a handful of riders to land a double backflip, Sheehan used that trick to earn bronze at X Games Los Angeles 2011 in Best Trick and since added QuarterPipe bronze in 2015. At Austin 2016, Josh was the only X Games athlete to compete in four disciplines (Best Whip, Best Trick, Freestyle and QuarterPipe), where he took his first gold in Freestyle.
  • Colton Satterfield (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) / The Real Cost BMX Big Air – The two-time defending BMX Big Air champion, Satterfield has been leading BMX Big Air progression for the past four X Games competitions he’s entered. Satterfield has landed new tricks, including the first-ever double flair at X Games Austin 2015, and will be making his ninth X Games appearance this year.
  • Jamie Bestwick (State College, Pennsylvania, USA) / Fruit of the Loom BMX Vert –Bestwick shares the all-time X Games gold medal streak record at nine with SnoCross racer Tucker Hibbert, but had to settle for a reset after taking silver behind Vince Byron in 2015. He kicked off what he hopes to be a new streak, taking gold at X Games Austin 2016. A win in Minneapolis would break his tie with Dave Mirra for most BMX gold at X Games with 14, and tie him with Shaun White’s record for most X Games gold across all sports and disciplines with 15.
  • Jordyn Barratt (Encinitas, California, USA) / Women’s Skateboard Park – At 18-years-old, Barratt has had an excellent 13 months. Since taking bronze as a last-minute addition to the Women’s Skateboard Park field at X Games Austin 2016, she’s been on the podium at nearly every major women’s park, pool or vert contest. She recently competed at Dew Tour in an all-male contest by qualifying via the Podium Skate App.

RSVP:              Please confirm your attendance via email to [email protected]

*NOTE: In order to attend, you must already be approved for media credentials for X Games Minneapolis 2017. Media credential check-in begins Wednesday, July 12 at 12 p.m. CT and will be issued from the Credential Center, which is located through the Staff and Media entrance at the Ecolab Gate off of South 4th Street on the northwest side of the stadium. Enter through the staff/media check-in door and make your first right. The Credential Center will be through the first set of doors on your left.

Please arrive early enough to allow yourself time to check in for credentials, get your RF equipment tagged and make your way to the East Main Concourse where the Press Conference is located.

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Contact:         

Olivia Wilson, ESPN Communications, [email protected], 213-304-1919

Olivia Coryell

Olivia Coryell leads communications strategy for initiatives including ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service and industry-leading app, ESPN+, and ESPN on Disney+. Since joining ESPN in 2016, Coryell has contributed to communications efforts across X Games, Brand Marketing, Corporate Citizenship, and more. Coryell is a proud graduate of Florida State University.
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