MAN I love the X Games. Some of things these guys do – 360 tailwhip backflips, double tailwhip backflips, double frontflips over a 70 foot gap, all on BMX bikes, 360s on a freaking motorcycle, skateboard tricks that are quite literally starting to look like video games, then all of a sudden they stop spinning wildly through the air and land in the exact right spot (it feels illogical to see), rolling away like it ain’t a thing, smooth as butter on baby seal’s behind. It want to cry sometimes, it’s so beautiful. I love jumping.

I also love that the trick competitions aren’t judged with fall-once-and-you’re-done scoring. I love the Olympics too but that drives me crazy; it’s hard to enjoy a rountine when all you’re thinking is “please don’t fall…please don’t fall…” Gymnastics and ice skating judging have gotten particularly nitpicky – it’s as if all they do is look at a huge list of possible deductions and then sit there not smiling, inspecting for errors. It’s like how a lot of people see God. It’s totally demerit-based rather than merit based, and it sucks the artistry right of out the room. But when you watch the X Games Mega Ramp competition, guys’ll go for a huge trick and fall it’s no big deal. THANK YOU.

If you don’t have ESPN, like me, you can watch it here.

You can also see great moments from X Games past. Some breathtaking stuff here.