X Games Austin 2015 – June 4-7

Circuit of the Americas

Buy tickets here. 

A more detailed version of ticket options are here. 

What you need to know 

It’s the 20th anniversary of X Games events (originally known as the ‘Extreme Games’ in 1995).

Two new events this year

Moto X QuarterPipe

Six freestyle riders each attempting a trick off a single quarterpipe feature. Each rider will have two runs, with his best score counting toward a final ranking.

and

Big Air Doubles

A BMX and Skateboard athlete pair together for a team competition. Each team will take five runs, with each athlete taking individual runs and receiving an individual gap and quarterpipe score on each run. The final score will be a combination of the team’s best gap and best quarterpipe scores.

Okay, maybe three new disciples?

Harley-Davidson Flat-Track racing

Harley-Davidson Flat-Track Racing will feature athletes racing high-performance motorcycles in close proximity around an oval track at speeds up to 130 mph. With the roots of Flat-Track Racing dating back to the early 1900s, the sport is one of the most traditional motorcycle racing disciplines.

X Games Austin Map

There are 7 villages this year.

Galleria, Gaming Shack, Torchy Taco’s Playground, Sound Factory, Next X Parks, Garage and Piranha X Vert Village.

Entry into all villages is included with purchase of X Games Austin event tickets.

Here’s what the festival villages include

GALLERIA
Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
A central retail hub featuring large-scale sponsor activations, the Galleria will include a 3D chalk art experience, breakdancing, Slackline demos, radio control boats, spin art, vendor shops, food court and much more.

PIRNAHA X VERT VILLAGE
Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
New to X Games Austin, the Piranha X Vert Village will be centered around the X Games Skateboard and BMX Vert competitions. The village will also offer fans up-close-and-personal X Games panel discussions with top athletes, an immersive Legends of X Games experience, Vert ramp demonstrations by pro X Games athletes and daily opportunities to learn how to drop in on the pro vert ramp.

THE GARAGE
Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
The Garage will provide a full-throttle journey featuring a high-flying radio control car track, dodge ball, chip and putting competitions, water park and an interactive BMX dirt track for all ages.

SOUND FACTORY
Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Don’t miss musical performances from The Glitch Mob, Kid Ink, Pennywise, Deltron 3030, Talib Kweli, Bright Light Social Hour plus many more artists performing LIVE on the Sound Factory stage surrounded by a fully interactive music and arts experience.

NEXT X PARKS
Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Become the next X Games star on professionally designed skateboard and BMX courses, including Street, Mini Ramp and Trick Courses, and master your own tricks while learning from the pros.

GAMING SHACK
Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Watch as the best of the best Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and DOTA2 gamers battle for X Games medals in Major League Gaming’s (MLG) X Games Austin Invitational, taking place amongst a first-rate technology playpen. The Gaming Shack will also feature an oversized gaming lounge and a classic arcade experience to entertain gamers of all interests and skill-levels.

TORCHY’S TACOS PLAYGROUND
Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Compete with your friends in a game of pop-a-shot basketball, soccer penalty kicks, baseball toss and skateboard simulation, while kids defend their turf playing King of the Hill and seek thrills while Bungee Jumping. Other fun elements include the YouTube sensation waterskiing squirrel, balloon artists and more.

Complete Schedule of Events

The entire in-person schedule is here.

Not gonna be there? 

X Games Austin 2015 telecast schedule is as follows:
 

*Times and events listed are Eastern Time (ET) and are subject to change.
Please consult your local listings.
 
Digital
 
XGames.com – XGames.com will provide onsite coverage from Austin with live results, video of competition runs and full-bleed photo galleries shot by the best creative talent in the action sports industry.
 
Live Music Webcast – X Games Austin will stream the live performance of Metallica  – one of the most influential and commercially successful rock bands in history, on ESPN3 and XGames.com, taking place on Saturday, June 6, on the Super Stage at Circuit of The Americas. Metallica’s show will mark their 10th performance in Austin, Texas, and their first in the city in six years.
 
X Games Extra presented by Skype is a nightly digital show hosted on XGames.com immediately following the ESPN primetime broadcast. X Games Extra is an interactive opportunity for fans to engage with gold medal winners, X Games talent and industry influencers. The show will be hosted by professional snowboarder and action sports personality Jack Mitrani. 
 
X Games Austin App – The app, which is compatible with iPhone 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 Austin. This free app is a must-have for X Games fans attending X Games Austin this year! 
 
ESPN3 – 6.5 hours of additional X Games Austin competition will be carried exclusively on ESPN3. ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually. It is accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and streamed on televisions through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku. 

X Games Athletes

Complete list of invited athletes can be viewed here.

But here are a few of the ones to watch for, per ESPN:

• Bob Burnquist (Skateboard Big Air) 27-time X Games medalist, 13-time X Games gold medalist
• Nyjah Huston (Skateboard Street) Nine-time X Games medalist, one of the most popular skateboarders in the world who owns five of the past seven X Games Skateboard Street gold
• Jamie Bestwick (BMX Vert) 13-time X Games gold medalist, is a nine-time defending X Games BMX Vert champion
• Brian Deegan (Moto X Step Up) co-founder of Metal Mulisha and a multi-discipline athlete who is one of the most recognizable names in action sports, Deegan has competed in Moto X and Rally events, he has earned 14 career X Games medals
• Ken Block (RallyCross) one of the most exciting drivers on the roster, Block is a five-time X Games Rally Car medalist and has popularized his viral Gymkhana YouTube series.
• Apdaly  Lopez (Off Road Truck Racing) won X Games Austin 2014 gold medal in Stadium Super Trucks. Will be back to defend his gold medal

How are the athletes preparing?

Exclusive interviews below!

Rusty Wallace Tackles Off-Road Trucks

Paul Rodriguez: ‘We Are Blood’ Star

Lacey Baker: Workin’ For a Livin’

Bucky Lasek: Skater, Driver, Dad

Jamie Bestwick Aims For 10th Straight Gold

Tom Schaar: Humble and Poised

Major League Gaming is back

Major League Gaming returns to X Games Austin with two invitationals: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Defense of the Ancients 2 (Dota 2).

More info can be found here.

X Games Music Schedule

Headliners include: Nicki Minaj, Metallica, Kid Ink, Talib Kweli, The Glitch Mob and Pennywise

See the complete music bill here.

Kick-off Event

X Games Austin will kick off with a one-of-a-kind charity event featuring a screening of “Angry Sky,” part of ESPN Films’ award-winning 30 for 30 documentary series, to benefit the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund at The V Foundation.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Red Carpet: 5 p.m.
Film Begins: 5:30 p.m.
Highball Reception: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Alamo Draft House / The Highball – South Lamar
1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Tickets can be purchased here at DraftHouse.com.

Access Denied

Not allowed are:

• For the safety and comfort of all guests, the following items are not allowed at the X Games: large bags, weapons, alcohol, coolers, pets (working animals excepted, i.e. guide dog); chairs, large umbrellas, laser-lights, noisemakers (i.e. air-horns); glass bottles, aluminum cans or beverages of any kind in unsealed containers.
• Guests may not bring any food and/or beverage items into the venue. The only exception is a factory sealed plastic bottled water, one liter or smaller. Empty water containers are permitted into the venue for use at facility provided water refilling stations. Guests with special dietary needs, infant formula or baby food, religious requirements, or medical conditions may be approved in advance through the Guest Services department.
• Skateboards and in-line skates are not allowed on the venue. Please use the skate check service at the Grand Plaza entrance of COTA.

Check the X Games Austin ESPN website for results and more information

X Games Austin on Facebook

X Games Austin on Instagram

X Games Austin on Twitter

X Games Austin on YouTube

Vote for the most dominant summer X-Gamer of all-time here.

Say hi to Tony Hawk for us. He’s always there, chillin’.

Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports

Photo Credit: Getty, Facebook.com/XGames (music)