In the past, X Games medals have been created in house. The group from ESPN would get together to \u201cthrow up some ideas on the white board and see what shakes out,\u201d according to Brian Kerr, the associate director of competition for X Games.<\/p>\n
This winter, beginning with X Games Aspen 2019, they opted to see what others in the neighborhood could do instead.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the first time, we decided to collaborate with this amazing Portland-based artist. His name is Spencer Keeton Cunningham,\u201d Kerr told The Aspen Times on Monday. \u201cX Games being the convergence of action sports, art and music, we chose one of his pieces and incorporated it into our medal design.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each X Games event has its own medals. In Aspen, which is set to host X Games this week for the 18th consecutive year, the medals have been inspired by the Maroon Bells, the Silver Queen Gondola and Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo\u2019s badge, among other things.<\/p>\n
This year, Cunningham\u2019s medals have gone back to Colorado\u2019s mountainous roots. With an eagle spreading its wings at the top, the medals depict Colorado\u2019s natural beauty and wildlife, with some subtle questions hidden within.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like a puzzle piece,\u201d Cunningham said in a\u00a0video piece released by X Games<\/a>\u00a0earlier this winter. \u201cThe full answer isn\u2019t there, but I\u2019m kind of asking you to look at, why is that tree cut in half? There is some type of meaning in there.\u201d<\/p>\n There are 20 disciplines at X Games Aspen this winter, with most receiving the traditional gold, silver and bronze awards. And like each of the previous competitions, the podium finishers will receive a one-of-a-kind medal to take home.<\/p>\n \u201cWith any art piece, it makes you think,\u201d Kerr said. \u201cThese are the best action-sports athletes in the world. They get these medals put over their heads. They take their pictures and they put them up on the mantlepiece, essentially forever. They are not going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n However, there is one competition this week that won\u2019t receive one of Cunningham\u2019s nature-inspired medals, and that is snowboard knuckle huck. New to X Games, athletes will go off the \u201cknuckle\u201d of the big air jump, looking to impress the judges. The winner \u2014 and only the winner \u2014 will receive a special \u201cknuckle ring\u201d and chain, exclusive to the event.<\/p>\n Knuckle huck, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, just before the men\u2019s ski big air final and the women\u2019s snowboard superpipe final, will feature an all-star field. Athletes include reigning Olympic slopestyle gold medalist Red Gerard, seven-time X Games gold medalist Mark McMorris and the return of 2014 Olympic slopestyle gold medalist Sage Kotsenburg, among others.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be cool. It\u2019s going to be fun. It\u2019s something different,\u201d Kerr said. \u201cThey drop in off that big air start and they come cruising down. They can either go left or right around our big air takeoff and just do a little trick over the knuckle.\u201d<\/p>\n As is usual, X Games Aspen will get underway Thursday with the Special Olympics unified snowboarding competition at 11 a.m. Spectating for the general public is free at the base of Buttermilk throughout the four-day event.<\/p>\nRecommended Stories For You<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n