The biggest day: X Games goes over the top Saturday

Tom Kisken, Ventura County Star
Updated ·2 min read
Remy Eiser, 11, tries the Flow-Rider water ride, one of the attractions for visitors as the X Games are held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Remy Eiser, 11, tries the Flow-Rider water ride, one of the attractions for visitors as the X Games are held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday.

Always big, the X Games were a little bigger Saturday.

The centerpiece day of the first summer finals held in front of large crowds since 2019 was sold out before the three-day games even began at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Officials said late Saturday afternoon 23,151 people attended.

The fairgrounds’ parking lot was sold out too. The specter of big crowds sparked planning efforts to provide train, buses and other alternatives to onsite parking. No traffic issues were reported early in the day.

At 9:15 a.m., a crowd gathered in the competition area, holding cellphones in the air, gawking at the motocross cyclists flying into the air, one bike after another like a high-wire dominoes chair.

Chris Le, 21, of Redondo Beach, craned his head upward and chuckled. This is why he came, parking in the structure near the Ventura Pier and walking to the fairgrounds.

“To watch the X Games. It’s lit,” he said. “I signed up for the busiest day so I could see everything.”

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk films the Women’s Skateboard Street competition on a sold-out day at the X Games at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk films the Women’s Skateboard Street competition on a sold-out day at the X Games at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday.

More: Everything you need to know about the X Games in Ventura

As women skateboarders scaled across rails and flew over the marquee sign in a street course styled like a school yard, fans clustered around the broadcast, cellphones again held high.

“You got Tony Hawk here!” one guy yelled.

It was true. The legendary 55-year-old skateboarder was part of the broadcast team. Every time he turned his face toward the crowd, people cheered. Hawk ventured into the throng for a moment to sign autographs.

Eric Berquise, of Ventura, stood several yards away, his 9-year-old daughter on his shoulders and tried to shoot a selfie that included the icon.

“Tony Hawk’s the most legendary skater of all time,” he said. “It’s so cool to see him in person.”

Chloe Covell wins gold in the Women’s Skateboard Street competition during the X Games at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 22, 2023.
Chloe Covell wins gold in the Women’s Skateboard Street competition during the X Games at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

Nine finals were on tap Saturday, including the Moto X quarter-pipe high air where cyclists soar off one ramp, pirouette and land on an adjacent ramp. Other highlights include men's park skateboarding, the first women's vert skateboarding finals since 2010 and BMX park.

Sunday's events begin at 9 a.m. with the games' first-ever women's street skateboarding best trick event. Competition concludes with the 2:30 p.m. finals for skateboard vert best trick.

The games were set to be televised Saturday by ABC from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on ESPN2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Sunday, telecasts include ABC coverage from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information on the X Games, go to https://tinyurl.com/mtedmybr.

Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255.

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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: X Games goes big Saturday at the Ventura County Fairgrounds