X Games in Austin, Texas, it still sounds weird to hear someone say it. When announced that the Circuit of the Americas would host the X Games starting in 2014, we knew we had to make our attendance known. Last year we got our feet wet, taking some pictures, meeting new people and asking a lot of questions. For 2015, we came in with a plan, and that plan included taking some epic pictures and showcasing the event like no one else could. We hope you enjoy our hours worth of work. This was done out of passion, so don’t sh!t on our parade.
2015 X Games Austin
Enduro X Photo Epic
X Games in Austin, Texas, it still sounds weird to hear someone say it. When announced that the Circuit of the Americas would host the X Games starting in 2014, we knew we had to make our attendance known. Last year we got our feet wet, taking some pictures, meeting new people and asking a lot of questions. For 2015, we came in with a plan, and that plan included taking some epic pictures and showcasing the event like no one else could. We hope you enjoy our hours worth of work. This was done out of passion, so don’t sh!t on our parade.
The Father and Son team of Destry and Cooper Abbott and their Kawasaki’s. Sadly, neither would make the main event.
Kacy Martinez won the women’s gold in Enduro X last year, the inaugural year of X Games in Austin, Texas. She is currently leading the WXC class in the GNCC Series, a Series she has already had the pleasure of winning. She had the momentum coming in, but some racers less seen in North America had other plans.
We were promptly asked to stop taking pictures. These Colors Don’t Run.
There was a lot about this picture that made us smile. Jamie Lanza is a name we haven’t seen in a while. It was good to see him back on the bike. Kurt Caselli is a legend, and Jamie deputed the KC66 Foundation graphics.
The man behind Endurocross in the States, Eric Peronnard, giving out last minute reminders at the riders meeting.
Maria Forsberg, the 411, listening in. She hasn’t been at a riders meeting in quite awhile. We’re sure she was paying very close attention.
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When you hear the Enduro X riders talk about the Tire Step-Up, this is what they are referring to. Many riders were hesitant to act aggressive with this obstacle. A select handful were able to jump completely over the tire, but the process sounded sketchy. Mike Brown broke it down for us during Episode 169.
Kevin Rookstool, #123, the first rider to triple out of the rhythm section. A few other riders were able to master this section, including Tarah Gieger.
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OH SHIT
We have no proof that those words left Taylor Robert’s mouth, but we’re sure he thought them. During the first practice, a lot of riders were spending time in this butt pucker position.
Previously we showed the #99 of Jamie Lanza’s bike, now we showcase that freckled face. Athletes would huddle around the AC Units to try and keep the heat and humidity from bogging them down too much.
This is the rhythm that a few riders were tripling out of. We thought this view gives a bit better perspective to the size and depth of the jumps. We’re not trying to dispute the fact that Destry Abbott might have a nice backside. If his wife is satisfied, then that’s all that matters.
This picture pisses us off. Why? We’re pissed off because we can’t see Taylor Robert’s eyes. Can you imagine the intensity that has to be lurking behind those dark lenses…
Cory Graffunder, the Canadian Thunder, looked good all day. This sand turn could have been a nasty chance to tuck the front wheel. Turns out all the water from the water pit got dragged in from the riders and helped keep it fairly packed down and relatively safe.
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Obligatory Monster Girls Shot
The racing during the women’s event was intense. Laia Sanz and Tarah Gieger switched places multiple times throughout the main. This picture showcases the lead Gieger had at one point, as she’s roosting Sanz going over the jump after the tire step-up.
The moments between Sanz and Gieger as the laps ticked off got more intense every turn. In the matrix, Gieger had the lead, but Sanz wasn’t backing off. She knew she needed to make a pass quick on Gieger to grab a gold medal at X Games Austin.
Sportsmanship, it’s a hell of a great thing. After Sanz made a pass on Gieger, she was able to bring it home for the checkered flag. Afterwards though, the ladies meet up and hugged it out. The intensity during the race was high, but afterwards, it was all smiles and high fives.
Colton Haaker got the holeshot. The way he was riding during the day, you would have expected him to have run away with the event.
It was not to be. Colton Haaker stumbled in the first set of rocks and that gave Cody Webb and Mike Brown a chance to break away from the pack.
This is the lead Cody Webb had at one point. Mike Brown stayed on him though, ready for any mistake Webb might make.
Webb still with a decent lead, but Brown closes up just a tad a lap later.
Brownie gets around Webb and slowly starts to ride away. During Webbs mistake and Browns gain, Taylor Robert starts to sneak into the picture. Robert would eventually make the pass on Webb and that’s where they would finish. Mike Brown was excited and ghost rode his bike; His mechanic might have fainted.
Max Gerston shows us what pure exhaustion looks like.
On the other side of the coin, Tarah Gieger is all smiles and ready to get her party on.
If you haven’t been to Torchy’s Tacos, you’re missing out. This bad boy was rolling around the pits shooting shirts at fans with the intensity of a good taco colon cleaning.
This was a damn good burrito. No idea what it was called, but the potatoes, meat, cheese and other bits of greatness were amazing after 12 hours of shooting out in the sun.
This is the first of many beers on the evening.
Having X Games in Texas has been an amazing experience. Next year will be bitter sweet, our third year covering the event, but the penultimate year of X Games in Texas. We should start planning the after parties now, they need to be something epic and extremely special!
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