By Donald Wood:
The sports world may be focused on the NFL Super Bowl right now, but the excitement surrounding the 2015 Winter X Games from Aspen, Colorado, should have even casual fans checking out the unique events.
This year’s festivities will be the 19th edition of the Winter X Games, and with huge names like Shaun White and Levi LaVallee returning for more gold, fans of all winter sports will be drawn to the action on the slopes.
Here is all the vital information needed to viewing events and a breakdown of the top athletes to watch at Winter X Games 2015.
Where: Buttermilk Mountain. Aspen, Colorado
When: Wednesday, January 21 to Sunday, January 25
Watch: ABC and ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
2015 Winter X Games TV Schedule
Wednesday, January 21 Time (ET) Watch
Women's Ski SuperPipe Final 9 p.m. - 10 p.m. ESPN3
Thursday, January 22
Men's Ski Slopestyle Elimination, Mono Skier X Final 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ESPN3
Men's Snowboard SuperPipe Elimination, Snowmobile Speed & Style 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. ESPN3
Men's Snowboard SuperPipe Eliminations and Final, Snowmobile Speed and Style Qtrs, Semis and Final 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. ESPN
Friday, January 23
Men's & Women's Snowboarder X Qtrs, Semis and Finals, Men's Snowboard Slopestyle Elimination, Snowboarder X Adaptive Final 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ESPN3
Men's Ski SuperPipe Elimination 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. ESPN3
X Games Music: Snoop Dogg 8:15 p.m. - 9:15 p.m. ESPN3
America's Navy Snowboard Big Air Round One 9:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. ESPN3
America's Navy Snowboard Big Air Final, Snowmobile Long Jump Final 10:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. ESPN
Saturday, January 24
Men's Ski Slopestyle Final, Women's Ski Slopestyle Final, Snowmobile HillCross Qtrs, Semis and Final 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. ABC
X Games Music: Chromeo 6 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. ESPN3
Women's Snowboard SuperPipe Final 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. ESPN3
GoPro Ski Big Air Round One & Final 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. ESPN
X Games Music: Skrillex 11:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. ESPN3
Sunday, January 25
Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Final 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m ESPN3
Men's Snowboard Slopestyle Final, Snowmobile SnoCross Adaptive Final, Snowmobile SnoCross Round One / LCQ / Final, Men's Ski SuperPipe Final 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
X Games Music: Wiz Khalifa 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. ESPN3
Source: XGames.com
*Full schedule via XGames.com.
Athletes to Watch
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Shaun White
As arguably the most decorated snowboarder in history, any time Shaun White makes his presence known at the X Games, the sports world takes notice. When asked during a Twitter question session with The Daily Share about when he will make his return to snowboarding, White revealed his game plan:
Shaun White hasn’t competed in snowboarding since he finished fourth in the halfpipe event at the Sochi Olympics, failing to win his third straight gold medal. Despite the disappointing finish, White’s skill can’t be denied.
As a 13-time gold medalist at the Winter X Games, White has dominated in both Slopestyle and Superpipe over the course of his career. At 28 years old, though, there are many fans wondering if White’s performance at the Olympics was a sign his best days are behind him.
The hope for winter-sports fans is that White returns to the games refocused and ready to climb the mountain once again. There is no doubt he will have to work hard to get back to his elite level, but he is talented enough to pull it off with the proper motivation.
One of the coolest parts of the Winter X Games is the inclusion of snowmobile events, including Best Trick, Speed & Style and Long Jump. One man who has dominated in each is X Games veteran Levi LaVallee.
In years prior, the talented athlete would split his time between the X Games and the Amsoil Championship Snocross International Series of Champions (ISOC), but that’s not the case anymore. After retiring from regular competition, LaVellee has a new set of goals.
After announcing his retirement from ISOC, LaVellee spoke to Colin Bane of XGames.com about why he made the decision and how he has shifted his focus:
The things I do are tough on a body, and there's a lot of bumping around in Snocross. I've just gotten to a point where I don't need to beat myself up anymore than I have to, and I love so many other things about snowmobiling. Retiring from Snocross will allow me to focus on some of the other things I like, like freestyle and jumping. From here on out the only snowmobile race on my calendar is Winter X Games, because it's just too fun to let go of that one. The track is always awesome, with the biggest jumps and most technical course, and the crowds and the cameras get me so amped up I'm just out there grinning from ear to ear.
LaVallee’s focus on the X Games is bad news for his competition.
In his career, LaVallee has won seven gold medals, two for Freestyle, two for Speed and Style, one for HillCross, one for Knock Out and one for Long Jump. Add in two more silver medals and a bronze—plus the distance-jumping record on a snowmobile (412 feet, six inches)—and he will be a major focal point of this year’s events.
If LaVallee is healthy enough to compete at a high level, he has the elite equipment and experience to steal the show once again. At 32 years of age, there should be enough in the tank for a few more runs at gold.
Article Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2334228-winter-x-games-2015-aspen-dates-tv-schedule-live-stream-athletes-event-info
