X Games 17 is finally here and kicked off just a few hours ago in Downtown LA! We know that not everyone is up to speed with action sports, so we thought we’d break down some of the main competitions happening this weekend.

X Games used to include several sports like surfing and wakeboarding, but has trimmed down to just the main events of skateboarding, BMX, motocross and rally car racing.

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BMX STREET

Van Homman // Photo: C.Van Hanja//ESPN Images

Event Description:

The Street competition showcases riders performing tricks in a concrete plaza, complete with stair sets, banks, manual pads and ledges.

Last Year’s Winner:

Garrett Reynolds

Athletes:

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BMX PARK

Daniel Dhers at X Games 17 Practice // Photo: Christian Pondella/ESPN Images

Event Description:

Park is a transition-based event on a fast-flowing course completely made of concrete and wood. It’s created to replicate a skatepark with continuously flowing lines and huge transitions.

Last Year’s Winner:

Daniel Dhers

Athletes:

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BMX VERT

Jamie Bestwick catches some air in the vert ramp

Event Description:

Dudes hurl themselves into a 60-foot wide halfpipe ramp with 11.5-foot transitions and two feet of vert. Riders have been going huge in recent years, pulling tricks like back-to back 900′s, flatwhip double tailwhip 540′s and more. Big tricks lead to even bigger crashes, and those metal bike frames sure don’t feel too good when they come crashing down on you from 15+ feet in the air.

Last Year’s Winner:

Jamie Bestwick won his 4th straight gold medal in BMX Vert

Athletes:

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BMX BIG AIR

BMX Big Air Ramp // Photo: Pete Demos/ESPN images

Event Description:

Riders fly down a 60 or 80-foot roll-in ramp and launch over a 50 or 70-foot gap where they will throw down some crazy trick variation, which then shoots them into a monster 27-foot quarterpipe where they can pull off a massive finishing trick. The big-air ramp is one of the most dangerous objects at X Games, as we learned in 2007 from skateboarder Jake Brown as he fell from over 40-feet in the air and was lucky enough to walk away alive.

Last Year’s Winner:

Chad Kagy

Athletes:

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