Summer X Games Season 8 Episode 1 2014 X Summer Games, Day #1: BMX Vert & Men's Skateboard Vert Final

The Summer X Games returned for its 8th season, and the first day featured the BMX Vert Final and Men's Skateboard Vert Final competitions. The best athletes from around the world gathered at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, to showcase their skills and compete for the coveted X Games medal.

First up was the BMX Vert Final, which saw some incredible performances from the top riders in the world. The format for the final was a jam session, with each rider given one minute to perform their best tricks and showcase their style. The judges scored each run based on difficulty, execution, amplitude, and overall impression.

Veteran rider Jamie Bestwick, who has won the BMX Vert gold medal at every X Games since 2007, was one of the favorites going into the final. However, he faced stiff competition from the likes of Simon Tabron, Zack Warden, and Vince Byron.

The riders pushed the limits of what was possible on a BMX bike, with huge airs, tailwhips, flips, and spins. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as they watched the athletes go higher and higher, defying gravity and physics with their tricks.

In the end, it was Vince Byron who took home the gold medal, with a stunning performance that included a triple tailwhip flair and a double backflip flair. Simon Tabron and Jamie Bestwick rounded out the podium, taking home the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Next up was the Men's Skateboard Vert Final, which also featured some of the best skateboarders in the world. The format for the final was similar to the BMX Vert Final, with a jam session and one-minute runs.

Veteran skaters like Bucky Lasek and Pierre-Luc Gagnon faced off against up-and-coming riders like Mitchie Brusco and Jimmy Wilkins. The crowd was treated to an incredible display of skill and athleticism, as the skaters carved the vert ramp, launched themselves into the air, and pulled off some incredible tricks.

One of the standout performances of the final came from Tom Schaar, who at just 14 years old, became the youngest skateboarder to ever win an X Games gold medal. Schaar wowed the crowd with his incredible technical skills and fearless attitude, landing tricks like a 900 and a frontside alley-oop 540.

The other podium spots were taken by Mitchie Brusco, who won the silver medal with a final run that included three 540s in a row, and Shaun White, who took home the bronze medal.

Overall, it was a thrilling start to the Summer X Games season 8, with some incredible performances from the world's best BMX and skateboard athletes. The fans were left hungry for more, and eagerly anticipated the upcoming events, which would feature even more adrenaline-pumping action and jaw-dropping stunts.