The 14th X Games at Aspen’s Buttermilk ski area in January will feature the return of the now-Olympic halfpipe and slopestyle events, additional adaptive competitions and the return of snowmobiling’s hillcross after an 11-year absence. And skicross will not be included in the X Games for a third consecutive year.
ESPN announced the lineup for the Jan. 22-25 games Wednesday, highlighting expanded adaptive sports.
Adaptive snowboarders will race head to head in the snowboardcross adaptive event, which was staged as a demonstration in 2011 and 2012. Monoskiercross and adaptive snowmobilecross competitions also will be contested in Buttermilk’s cross course.
ESPN is including a snowboarding dual slalom contest that teams a Special Olympics athlete with an X Games athlete, spearheaded by Special Olympics global ambassador and Olympic snowboarder Hannah Teter.
Disabled snowboarders will race head to head in the adaptive boardercross event, which was staged as a demonstration in 2011 and 2012. Monoskiercross and adaptive snowmobilecross competitions will also go down in Buttermilk’s cross course.
After missing 2014, the X Games snowmobile speed and style returns next year, and snowmobile hillcross returns after more than a decade absence, featuring an uphill race through berms, rollers and jumps.
Buttermilk will debut this season, and the X Games is planning to expand its musical and festival footprint at the base.
“We are proud to showcase 19 competitions at X Games Aspen, which will include more medaled adaptive disciplines than ever before,” Tim Reed, the X Games’ director of events and content, sin a statement.
Jason Blevins: 303-954-1374, jblevins@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jasonblevins
Winter x games events
Ski and snowboard big air
Ski and snowboard halfpipe, M and W
Ski and snowboard slopestyle, M and W
Boardercross, M and W
Boardercross adaptive
Monoskicross
Snowmobile long jump
Snocross
Snocross adaptive
Snowmobile speed and style
Snowmobile hillcross
