How good is the news that the X Games and Winter X Games will have equal prize money for both men and women for the first time ever in 2009! It all starts with the Winter X Games 13, in January 09. Big up to ESPN for pushing the validity and exposure of female athletes in action sports to the same platform.

Nikita team rider Mimi Knoop (US) is a full-time professional skateboarder and has been a part of the Action Sports Alliance, a non-profit organization she founded with close pal and fellow skater Cara-Beth Burnside. The Alliance focuses on pushing and promoting women in action sports, vying for more equal recognition of their dedication and abilities. Their voices were clearly heard.

“I would really like to give credit to the Alliance and what we have been able to do by uniting and working together… it took years of work and it’s amazing to see what we envisioned come to fruition,” said Mimi Knoop. “The Alliance is proud to have played such an important role in this historic milestone in women’s action sports. This is going to open doors for so many women and girls out there that love action sports. We are going to see girls progress in their different disciplines and more girls are going to enter into action sports because they now have a real future they can work towards. The stage is set, and this is only the beginning.”

Mimi celebrated a great summer of skating, racking up some impressive results. She competed at the Soul Bowl competition, the S3 Supergirl Jam and the X-Games where she scored 1st, 2nd and 3rd places respectively in women’s vert, following a win at the Vans Pro-Tech Pool Party back in May.

“ESPN is proud to announce that the X Games and Winter X Games will feature equal prize money for both men and women in 2009,” confirmed John Skipper of ESPN. “ESPN has been a leader in promoting and programming women’s athletics, and this recent action sports prize purse increase is the latest example. This past summer saw the X Games feature women’s motocross for the first time, and the upcoming Winter X Games will feature a host of female Olympic medalists from several different countries. Starting with Winter X Games 13 in January, 2009, men and women athletes at all X Games events will compete for equal cash awards.”

For more info on The Alliance go to actionsportsalliance.com