The 2026 iteration of the X Games has marked a transformative period for action sports, and the second day of the Sacramento event solidified this evolution through the successful integration of the new X Games League (XGL). As the competition moved into its second day on Saturday, June 27, the atmosphere at the venue was defined by a combination of high-stakes athleticism and a strategic shift toward a team-based format. With perfect weather conditions and a capacity crowd, the event saw seven different disciplines crown champions, several of whom rewrote the record books of action sports history.
The Evolution of the X Games League
A central theme of the 2026 Sacramento games is the formal introduction of the X Games League, a structural overhaul designed to mirror the stability and regional loyalty of traditional professional sports leagues. For the first time, athletes are not merely competing as individuals or under brand sponsors alone, but as representatives of city-based franchises. The day’s results saw significant points gains for teams such as XC São Paulo, XC New York, XC Tokyo, and XC Los Angeles.
This league format aims to provide a more consistent narrative for fans and a more sustainable economic model for athletes. By organizing top-tier talent into teams, the X Games seeks to enhance the "stickiness" of the broadcast product, allowing viewers to follow team standings throughout the season. Day Two served as a proof-of-concept for this model, as fans in Sacramento were seen donning team-specific apparel, cheering for "home" heroes like Brady Baker of XC Los Angeles.
Skateboard Vert: Khury’s Resilience and Record-Breaking Performance
The competitive schedule commenced with the MoonPay Men’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick, an event that has historically pushed the boundaries of aerial rotations. Seventeen-year-old Gui Khury, representing XC São Paulo, entered the ramp under significant physical duress, competing with a fractured hand. Despite this, Khury executed a kickflip body varial 900 on his first attempt.
The technicality of the trick—combining a 900-degree rotation with a kickflip and a body varial—secured him his sixth consecutive gold medal in the discipline. Khury now holds the record for the most gold medals in Vert Best Trick with seven, and he further cemented his status as the most decorated teenager in the history of the X Games, totaling 16 career medals.
Following Khury on the podium were Japanese athletes Soya Inomata and Ema Kawakami. At just 11 years old, Kawakami’s bronze-medal performance with a fakie-to-forward 1080 highlights the rapidly decreasing age of elite-level competitors, a trend that has become a hallmark of the 2020s skateboarding scene.
Street Skateboarding: The Changing of the Guard
In the Monster Energy Men’s Skateboard Street final, the narrative focused on the rivalry between the established icon Nyjah Huston and the rising phenom Ginwoo Onodera. Onodera, representing XC New York, delivered a high-complexity run that included a switch frontside 270 frontside bluntslide to fakie and a kickflip frontside bluntslide to bigspin out. His technical precision earned him his second gold medal of the weekend.
Nyjah Huston, also of XC New York, secured the silver medal. While a podium finish is a feat for any athlete, the result was bittersweet for Huston, who remains one gold medal shy of tying BMX legend Garrett Reynolds for the most X Games gold medals of all time. The bronze medal was awarded to Juni Kang, a free agent who made history as the first Korean skateboarder to reach an X Games podium, signaling the continued globalization of the sport.
BMX Park and Dirt: Australian Dominance and Hometown Heroics
The Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick saw a dominant display by Australian athletes. Ryan Williams (XC São Paulo) claimed his 12th career gold medal by landing a trick he dubbed the "Oliver Twist"—an alley-oop 540 frontflip flair on the vert wall. Williams’ ability to innovate new maneuvers in a competitive environment remains unparalleled in the BMX circuit.
Logan Martin (XC New York) took silver, an impressive result considering he was hospitalized with pneumonia only two weeks prior to the event. Martin’s resilience provided a significant points boost for the New York franchise.
Later in the day, the focus shifted to the Stake Men’s BMX Dirt event. Brady Baker, representing XC Los Angeles, utilized his familiarity with the Sacramento dirt to unseat the defending champion, Ryan Williams. Baker’s victory was a highlight for the local spectators, and his third career gold medal in the discipline moved XC Los Angeles up in the overall league standings.
Women’s Skateboard Vert: Trew Ties Historical Records
Arisa Trew of XC Tokyo continued her meteoric rise in the action sports world. After winning gold in Skateboard Park on Friday, she returned on Saturday to secure the Women’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick gold. Her winning maneuver, a Switch McTwist, was landed on her first attempt.
This victory was Trew’s 10th career X Games gold medal, a milestone that ties her with legendary snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis for the most gold medals won by a woman in X Games history. Furthermore, Trew is now tied with Gui Khury for the most total medals earned by a teenager. The silver medal went to Trew’s teammate, Mizuho Hasegawa, ensuring a 1-2 finish for XC Tokyo and a dominant lead in the women’s division standings.
Moto X: The Electric Revolution
Perhaps the most significant technological milestone of the weekend occurred during the Moto X Best Trick competition. Patrick Evans claimed the gold medal while riding an electric motorcycle, the only such vehicle in the competition. Evans performed a Nak-Nak no-hander front flip, a trick requiring immense core strength and precise throttle control.
The victory of an electric bike over traditional internal combustion engines suggests a looming shift in the industry. Analysts note that the instant torque provided by electric motors offers a distinct advantage in the short approach ramps used for Best Trick competitions. Evans’ score of 95.66 reflected not just the difficulty of the trick, but the flawless execution on a relatively new platform for the sport.
The podium was completed by Ben Richards and the veteran Rob Adelberg. Adelberg, with 21 career medals, narrowly missed his fourth consecutive title but remains the most decorated Australian athlete in X Games history.
Cultural Integration: Music and Sacramento’s Impact
As the sun set over Sacramento, the event transitioned from a sports competition to a cultural festival. The Saturday night lineup featured Mustard and Subtronics, drawing a crowd that exceeded the attendance figures of the previous year’s mid-event concerts.
The choice of Sacramento as a host city has proven effective for the X Games’ rebranding efforts. The city’s infrastructure and its history as a hub for Northern California skate culture provided a receptive backdrop for the new league format. Economic impact reports from local officials suggest that the three-day event has generated significant revenue for the region’s hospitality and retail sectors, with hotel occupancy rates in the downtown core reaching near-capacity levels.
Analysis of Implications
The results of Day Two suggest several key trends for the future of action sports:
- Youth Dominance: The average age of podium finishers in skateboarding continues to hover in the mid-teens, suggesting that the "peak" age for technical progression is earlier than in previous decades.
- Technological Shift: The success of Patrick Evans on an electric motorcycle may accelerate the adoption of E-Moto technology across other disciplines, potentially reducing the noise and environmental footprint of the sport.
- League Stability: The XGL format appears to be gaining traction with fans. The points-based system adds a layer of consequence to every run, as individual performances now impact the collective standing of the teams.
Looking Ahead to Day Three
The MoonPay X Games Sacramento 2026 will conclude on Sunday with a packed schedule of finals. Key events include the Monster Energy Women’s Skateboard Street, the Men’s Skateboard Vert finals, and the Men’s BMX Dirt Best Trick.
Special attention will be paid to the overall team standings. Currently, XC New York and XC Tokyo are in a tight race for the top spot, while individual athletes like Nyjah Huston and Logan Martin seek to capitalize on their final opportunities to secure gold. The final day’s events will be broadcast live on ABC and ESPN, ensuring that the conclusion of this historic Sacramento event reaches a global audience.
