BOISE — The best skaters and BMX riders in the world have made their way to Boise to compete in the X Games qualifier.
This marks the third year in a row that Boise has hosted the extreme sports event at Rhodes Skate Park in downtown.
WORLD. CLASS. Absolutely incredible. Thank you @XGames, all the athletes, fans, and vendor partners. Each year has been great - but we think this year takes the cake. Third time's a charm! #RhodesToXGames pic.twitter.com/Zpu9qHhhZA
— City of Boise (@CityOfBoise) June 29, 2019
Boise had two skaters riding in the competition: Dalton Beeson will be competing for the third time and Elliot Saxton will ride for the first time after receiving an invite from ESPN and the X Games.
"When I got it I was super relieved and just really excited," said Saxton. "Then I was a little nervous because this is going to be broadcast to the world, it's crazy."
In the finals Saturday, the youngest rider in the field, 16-year-old Marcus Christopher, took the top spot in the BMX. Brandon Loupos, a 2018 X Games Dirt gold medalist, game in second place. Other riders that qualified for an invite to X Games Minneapolis in BMX were Jose Torres, Kevin Peraza, Rim Nakamura and Pat Casey.
In women's skating, Japanese skater Misugu Okamoto took the top spot. Second and third place were also taken by Japanese skaters, 10-year-old Cocona Hiraki and Kihana Ogawa placed second and third respectively. Hiraki will be the youngest competitor ever at the X Games. Bryce Wettstein, Kody Tamanaha and Poppy Starr Olsen also qualified for X Games Minneapolis.
The "Flyin' Hawaiian" Heimana Reynolds placed first in the Men's Skateboard Park. Cory Juneau, Ivan Federico, Keegan Palmer, Luiz Francisco and Jake Wooten also qualified for X Games Minneapolis.
Unfortunately, neither of Boise's skaters made it to the finals.
