We used to say the X Games were best watched on TV, but we don’t even do that any more. Now, according to a story in the Aspen Daily News, we discover that the onsite attendance for Winter X 13 was down to its lowest point in five years.
ESPN officials are “very pleased” about the four-day total of 68,100 spectators, more than 4,000 fewer than last year’s total of 72,500 and well short of the record 2007 attendance of 76,150. . . Despite all the weather and rain people stood out there for four or five hours,” said Amy Lupo, a marketing director for ESPN. “Every final is the absolute biggest event with all the cheering and the crowds.”
When you factory in the economy, getting 68,100 people to stand around in the snow for hours on end seems like a pretty amazing feat to us.
Shaun White won his ninth X Games event last night (14 total medals) in a close Superpipe final over Kevin Pierce. Immediately there was talk about Shaun getting pushed, but ESPN blogger Tracy Anderson breaks it down pretty cleanly on his post titled White Gold.
White beats Pearce by one point. A 91.66 to Pearce’s 90.66. White becomes the first athlete in X Games history to win back-to-back pipe golds. The crowd goes crazy. End of story. . . Not so fast. Complaints began immediately. ESPN’s X Games announcer Todd Richards said on live TV he didn’t think White’s run deserved gold. Several pro snowboarders watching—standing next to me—said Pearce’s run looked better, bigger.
Anderson then includes the trick by trick breakdown and Shaun had one more hit and an extra spin. We’re reminded that controversy just makes better TV.
This is apparently the eighth time Shaun White has one the top golden prize on this TV show. They’re saying it’s some kind of record. He looks damn good in this clip. Flawless even.
We’re not saying that this is all of the January ASR Show, but it certainly is most of it. The space felt really small, but the mood was actually up considering the economy. It may not look like it, but there were quite a few people in the isles.
Follow the jump to view more photos from the floor the morning of day one. [click to continue…]
Honest exit interviews in action sports industry are rare. But apparently Dave Appel is one of those rare honest guys. Last October, Dave was cut when Burton moved The Program back to home base in Burlington. And now, in an interview on YoBeat.com, he lays it down so straight it gives us the chills. Here is a slice:
“For the record”…I don’t think I was a product of the economic downturn at all. I was a product of piss-poor management. When I started at Forum, snowboards made up less than 50% of the hardgoods department and when I left, it made up 67%, not too mention my category had the highest grossing margin at The Program. Also, for the first time in Forum’s history, they won 4 Goodwood awards, 2 years in a row while I was there. In regards to the way the boards ride and hold up, I was a one-man show. The graphics of course were done by the artists we all know and love. So, “They” “downsized” and relocated my department from one person (me) to a team of 8 people. It was complete and utter bullshit.
For the rest of one of the best industry interviews we’ve read all year, click the link.
ESPN announced today that they have extended their deal with The Aspen Skiing Company until 2012, according to a story in the Aspen Times. And why not? Aspen is the perfect place for the over-the-top theatrics of televised snowboarding.
“Aspen has been a terrific partner,” said Rick Alessandri, the managing director of ESPN’s Global X Franchise. “They’ve always been enthusiastic. They’ve always been supportive of our desire to keep growing our event.” . . . “There’s something special here,” he said. “There’s kind of this idyllic setting with the community and the mountains and this being a resort destination. It seemed to be the perfect fit. We always try to provide the athletes with the best facilities and the best experience. We have that here.”
Looks like Aspen is going to become the Branson, Missouri of extreme sports. We can hardly wait to see the Stephen Fisher dinner show in The ESPN Superpipe Theater.
First we thought it was a online snowboard community. Then the manufacturer of puffy jackets made in American. Now, turns out MTNOPS is a snowboard company that builds snowboards in remembrance of the 20th Anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
The Burden is a directional freeride rocket that pays tribute to the men and wildlife devastated more than 20 years ago and impacted to this day.
What the hell? A snowboard paying tribute to an ecological disaster? Now we’re stuck wondering: what is Mark Sullivan’s next product going to be? Long underwear in tribute to the Northridge Earthquake?
Woody Harrelson tries to teach The New York Times “Carpetbagger” blogger a.k.a. David Carr how to snowboard using a Lib Tech Skate Banana. It does not go well.
Click the link for the whole boring video and try to figure out why Mr. Carr even gets paid.
