The surfing competition of ESPN’s X Games will be held for a third consecutive year in Puerto Escondido. Famous for the big powerful waves of Zicatela Beach, the Men’s, Women’s and Local’s competitions are scheduled for July 3-6 at the “Mexican Pipeline.” This year’s competition will feature two new events, Women’s Surfing and the “USA vs. the World” format replacing the “East Coast vs. West Coast” format in years past. The majority of X Games 13 will be held August 2-5, in Los Angeles.
For the first time, the Men’s and Women’s Surfing competitions will be streamed live with real-time scoring and chat on www.expn.com. Replays and event highlights on-demand will also be available post-event. The Surfing Men’s Final will broadcast on August 5th at 4pm and the Surfing Women’s Final will be televised at 9.30pm.
“We’re very excited to add an incredible women’s field this year, and the change to ‘USA vs. the World’ is going to be electric,” said X Games General Manager Chris Stiepock. “The X Games prides itself on providing the best action sports athletes with the most challenging courses to allow them to display their athleticism and progression, and the ‘Mexican Pipeline’ at Puerto Escondido does just that.”
National Surfing League founder Brad Gerlach said, “It’s exciting to change the format and bring the leading surf stars – men and women – from around the world to the X Games.”
The invited surfers include U.S. Men’s Rob Machado and Jamie O’Brien, U.S. Women’s Rochelle Ballard and Megan Abubo, World Team Men’s Julian Wilson and Mick Campbell, and World Team Women’s Sofia Mulanovich and Stephanie Gilmore. Former World Champion Lisa Anderson will lead the USA Women’s team and seven-time World Champion Layne Beachly will coach the World team.
For a complete list of competitors, please log on to www.expn.com.