X Games 2012 Los Angeles – Summer Highlights and Photo Galleries

The X Games are as big, wild and extreme as you can get in action sports. They are the ultimate test of the top athletes in their field, boosting higher than the year before and stomping the sickest tricks as they introduce new moves, innovation and impeccable style. As summer begins in beautiful Southern California, fans everywhere gathered in the heart of downtown Los Angeles this weekend at the Staples Center where X Fest 2012 took over the town.

Kickoff parties began early Thursday as the world prepared to watch the ultimate show in action sports, where history is always made and danger pushed to the next mind shattering level. This years’ X Games saw many familiar faces like pro skater Bob Burnquist, Big Air’s gold medalist, sharing the podium with Mitchie Brusco and Nolan Monroe. This summer’s epic Staples Center LA vert ramp also introduced the youngest skateboarders ever to appear at the games — in Big Air nonetheless. Young American skaters Alex Sorgente (14 years old), Tom Schaar (12 years old) and Jagger Eaton (11 years old) were charging the ultimate X Games vert ramp and boosting higher than most of the competitors, throwing down huge 900′s and making it look easy.

Ladies also took to the stage with an epic Street Skateboarding final, Alexis Sablone taking home the gold medal, Brazilian superstar Leticia Bufoni with silver, and Rachel Reinhard cruising in with bronze. Men’s Street Skateboarding Finals were ill featuring a sick setup and everyone taking advantage.  The podium only had room for three: Paul Rodriguez, Ryan Sheckler and of course, Nyjah Huston. 

Enjoy three sets of photo galleries from the highlights of X Games 2012 – Los Angeles: X Fest, Big Air Skateboarding Heats & Finals, Women’s Street Skateboarding Heats & Finals… 

X Fest Photos by The Ski Channel /Shannon Q

X Games 2012 – Los Angeles X Fest. Photo: Shannon Q

X Games 2012 – Los Angeles X Fest. Photo: Shannon Q

X Games 2012 – Los Angeles X Fest. Photo: Shannon Q

X Games 2012 – Los Angeles X Fest. Photo: Shannon Q

X Games 2012 – Los Angeles X Fest. Photo: Shannon Q

X Games 2012 – Los Angeles X Fest. Photo: Shannon Q

X Games 2012 – Los Angeles X Fest. Photo: Shannon Q

X Games 2012 – Los Angeles X Fest. Photo: Shannon Q

X Games 2012 – Los Angeles X Fest. Photo: Shannon Q

Shannon Marie Quirk ( More Posts)

Shannon Marie Quirk is an editor, writer, photographer and graphic designer for The Ski Channel.

Snowboarding means everything to this Lake Tahoe local, often found chasing down endless winters deep in Los Andes Mountain region backcountry of Patagonia during the summertime. She is no stranger to the Mammoth Mountain Superpipe, where she took 1st place in Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe for SCCSC league, 1st in Women’s Snowboard Freestyle for the 2009 season, and 5th in Slopestyle at USCSA Nationals placing 8th overall for the women. A passion for photography channels her athleticism towards a career path as a sports journalist, supported by Bachelor of Arts degrees from UCLA in English and Spanish literature. Also a passionate surfer, this gal can’t stay far from a board as she shreds the hemispheres guided by mother nature’s weather patterns.