6 athletes to watch in first-ever Sacramento X Games this weekend at Cal Expo
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sacramento hosts the first-ever X Games and first MoonPay X Games League stop.
- About 90 skateboard, BMX and motocross athletes will compete at Cal Expo.
- The winning team will receive $500,000 at the championships in late July in New Orleans.
On Friday morning, X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom and multiple athletes spoke at a news conference ahead of the first-ever X Games event hosted in Sacramento, as well as the first stop on the new MoonPay X Games League.
The Sacramento games, hosted at Cal Expo, will bring together about 90 of the best extreme-sports athletes in the world to compete in skateboard, BMX and motocross events.
The four competing teams — New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo and São Paulo, Brazil — are each made up of five men and five women spanning the 18 events, with some competing in multiple. The rest of the athletes are free agents, competing for themselves and hoping to earn a roster spot if an athlete is injured or in the coming seasons.
Points are accrued throughout the three-stop season, with the winning team receiving $500,000 at the championships in late July in New Orleans.
Tickets are still available on the X Games website, ranging from single day viewing beginning at $19 to three-day premium tickets with access to all three music performances — Kaskade on Friday, and Mustard and Subtronics on Saturday — for more than $400.
Ahead of the first-ever Sacramento and team-based X Games event, the general managers and multiple athletes from the New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo clubs, as well as some additional athletes, made available briefly at the news conference.
Here are six athletes to look out for this weekend.
Chloe Covell
Team: New York
Event: Women’s skateboard street (11 a.m. Sunday)
What to know: Covell, a double gold medalist at the 2025 Salt Lake City X Games, was the No. 1 overall pick in the first-ever X Games draft in March. The 16-year-old skateboard superstar first debuted in the X Games at 12 years old and is known for being one of the first female athletes to incorporate switch skating — riding the board opposite one’s dominant side — into her routines.
What she said: “It was crazy,” Covell said of being picked first. “To be picked first is so amazing, and bringing the X games from one individual sporting event into one team environment is really cool to see.”
Mia Kretzer
Team: Los Angeles
Event: Women’s skateboard vertical (6:45 p.m. Sunday)
What to know: At 11 years old, Kretzer may seem young for the competition, but she is two years removed from her debut as the youngest-ever X Games competitor at age 9 in 2024 and won a gold medal in the women’s skateboard vertical, becoming the youngest to do so.
What she said: “I hope that any young kids just remember to chase their dreams, but have fun while they’re doing it,” Kretzer said.
Nyjah Huston
Team: New York
Event: Men’s skateboard street (1 p.m. Saturday)
What to know: A Davis native, Huston is widely considered the best skateboard street athlete ever, having won 18 medals, 11 gold, in the event at the X Games and earning an Olympic bronze medal as well. After debuting as a prodigy at 11, Huston is now 31 and preparing to compete in his 20th X Games.
What he said: “I’m just really thankful to still be out here, being as healthy as I am, being able to compete with the young guns,” Huston said. “Everyone out there is just killing it.”
Tom Schaar
Team: Los Angeles
Event: Men’s skateboard vertical (12:15 p.m. Sunday) and park (4:30 p.m. Saturday)
What to know: Schaar was the No. 2 overall pick in the X Games draft, known for his versatility and ability to medal in five different disciplines across his 12-year career. He also won a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics. During his interview, Schaar praised the new team format, saying it allows athletes to spend more time training and less working on logistics.
What he said: “It takes a lot of pressure off us,” Schaar said of being part of a team. “We can just focus on skating progression and not have to worry about getting flights or hotels. It’s really nice.”
Kevin Peraza
Team: Tokyo
Event: BMX street (1:30 p.m. Sunday), park (5 p.m. Friday) and dirt (7 p.m. Saturday)
What to know: While many drafted athletes will compete in multiple disciplines, Peraza is the only competitor going for three golds this weekend. He is the only athlete to ever win an X Games gold medal in dirt, park, park best trick and street across their career. Peraza said he is especially excited to represent team Tokyo despite not being from Japan.
What he said: “I love what I do. I’m very passionate, very devoted,” Peraza said. “To also represent a club who is on the same mindset, if you surround yourself with greatness you’ll become successful, no matter what it is.”
Vicki Golden
Team: Free agent
Event: Motocross best whip (7:30 p.m. Friday)
What to know: After winning three straight X Games gold medals in the women’s motocross event, she transitioned into the co-ed circuit and has continued to find success, earning a bronze medal as the first woman to enter the motocross best whip competition. Though she won’t be competing as part of the team event, she is still excited to make her mark on the games.
What she said: “What I want to do is just to prove that I definitely deserve the spot that I was given, and just showcase it for all the ladies out there,” Golden said. “It’s hard to have inspiration where you can’t see it, so it’s a big honor for me to be able to be that person.”
