X Games on Monday announced the addition of three new disciplines to its Real Series, the all-video medal events featured in tandem with each of the on-site action-sports competitions. Along with the global expansion of the X Games, for which three new international events -- in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil; Munich; and Barcelona -- will be staged in 2013, Real Ski Backcountry, Real Surf and Real Women will join the current lineup of Real Street, Real Snow and Real Snow Backcountry as medal events at X Games in 2013.
The Real Series first debuted in summer 2010 at X Games Los Angeles as Real Street. Because so many of skateboarding's stars eschew contests in favor of filming skateboard movie parts, the idea for an all-video contest was created in order to bring the two worlds together for the first time. Skateboarders submitted 60-second video parts featuring skateboarding done exclusively in city streets for a chance to win $50,000 and X Games gold, as well as an additional $10,000 in a "Fan Favorite" online bracket vote.
"It's awesome to be able to support athlete-generated content through the expansion of the Real Series," said Tim Reed, senior director of content strategy for the X Games. "The videos produced over the last three years have been top-notch and we are thrilled to grow the program and provide a global platform on ESPN networks and xgames.com for more women and men in surf, ski and skate."
Based on Real Street's success, Real Snow was added to the X Games Aspen event lineup in 2011 as a way to bring urban snowboarders into the winter-contest fold. Real Snow Backcountry, an all-backcountry snowboarding footage contest soon followed, making its debut at X Games Tignes last March.
The underlying principle of each winter-themed contest is the same: All footage is shot outside the confines of parks and resorts. Athletes with reputations for developing creative uses for unusual terrain features traditionally make up the invitee list. X Games gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded by a panel of athlete and industry experts during the X Games event telecasts, and fans are given the opportunity to cast ballots for their favorite video parts in a bracketed online voting contest in the month leading up to each X Games event.
For the coming year, Real Snow will continue to be a part of the X Games Aspen event. Videos will go live with the online Fan Favorite voting bracket on XGames.com on Jan. 8. Winners will be announced during live broadcast of the X Games on Jan. 27.
Joining the three existing Real Series events, Real Ski Backcountry will make its debut in conjunction with X Games Tignes on March 5. Real Surf makes its first splash on April 2 as part of X Games Foz do Iguaçu. Real Women, an all-female ski, snowboard, surf and skate multi-sport contest, will join the X Games Barcelona event lineup, with fan voting starting May 30. Real Street moves to the new X Games Munich event, with video parts dropping June 4, while Real Snow Backcountry will now roll out video parts on July 16 in conjunction with X Games Los Angeles.
"Having the opportunity to showcase women's snowboarding, skating, surfing, and skiing through video segments at X Games is huge," says Kimmy Fasani, one of two women representing snowboarding in Real Women. "I can't wait to see what each of these incredible ladies brings to the table. It's definitely an honor to be part of."
While not all of the athlete rosters have been set for the Real Series events, confirmed athletes (list subject to change) are as follows:
Real Snow ~ Voting begins: Jan. 8 ~ Winners announced: X Games Aspen 2013, Jan. 24-27
1. Dan Brisse, USA2. Pat Moore, USA
3. Ethan Deiss, USA
4. Jeremy Jones, USA
5. Louis-Felix Paradis, Canada
6. Eero Ettala, Finland
7. Bode Merrill, USA
8. Frank April, Canada
Real Ski Backcountry ~ Voting begins March 5: ~ Winners announced at X Games Tignes 2013, March 20-22
1. Sean Pettit, Canada2. Dane Tudor, Canada
3. Sammy Carlson, USA
4. Parker White, USA
5. Pep Fujas, USA
6. Tanner Hall, USA
7. Wiley Miller, USA
8. Chris Benchetler, USA
Real Surf ~ Voting begins: April 2 ~ Winners announced: X Games Foz do Iguaçu 2013, April 18-21
1. Chippa Wilson, Australia2. Jordy Smith, South Africa
3. Gabriel Medina, Brazil
4. TBD
5. TBD
6. TBD
7. TBD
8. TBD
Real Women ~ Voting begins: May 30 ~ Winners announced: X Games Barcelona 2013, May 16-19
1. Snowboard: Jess Kimura, USA2. Snowboard: Kimmy Fasani, USA
3. Ski: Ingrid Backstrom, USA
4. Ski: Michelle Parker, USA
5. Skate: Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins Pastrana, USA
6. Skate: Leticia Bufoni, Brazil
7. Surf: Coco Ho, USA
8. Surf: Maya Gabeira, Brazil
Real Street ~ Voting begins: June 4 ~ Winners announced: X Games Munich 2013, June 27-30
1. Austyn Gillette, USA2. Ishod Wair, USA
3. Aaron "Jaws" Homoki, USA
4. Gilbert Crockett, USA
5. PJ Ladd, USA
6. Emmanuel Guzman, USA
7. Windsor James, USA
8. Albert Nyberg, Sweden
9. Danny Montoya, USA
10. Mike Vallely, USA
11. TBD
12. TBD
13. TBD
14. TBD
15. TBD
16. TBD
Real Snow Backcountry ~ Voting begins: July 16 ~ Winners announced: X Games LA, Aug. 1-4
1. Jussi Oksanen, Finland2. Mikey Rencz, Canada
3. Pat Moore, USA
4. Andreas Wiig, Norway
5. Torstein Horgmo, Norway
6. Lucas Debari, USA
7. Freddie Kalbermatten, Switzerland
8. Travis Rice, USA
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