Winter X Games 2012: History, TV schedule and the magic of 3D

The adrenaline-racing, heart-pumping action of the 2012 Winter X Games kicked off yesterday and ESPN has it covered like snow with tons of TV coverage, including 24 hours of magical 3-D broadcasts. Below is a bit of history about the games, the TV schedule for the 2012 Winter X Games on all ESPN channels and ABC, plus a review of ESPN’s magical 3D coverage.

History of the X Games

The X Games, initially called Extreme Games, first debuted in 1995 at two different locations in Rhode Island and Vermont. Extreme athletes competed in 27 events in nine categories including bungy jumping, sport climbing, eco-challenge, skysurfing, in-line skating, skateboarding, street luge, and biking and water sports.

In 1996, the name was changed to the X Games and a winter version was added. ESPN was thrilled with the public’s fascination with the X Games and the huge number of viewers they were drawing to the network. One TV critic called the games, “Sheer unadulterated athletic lunacy.”

ESPN and the X Games turned daredevil sports into mainstream TV events that are watched by millions of viewers. In addition, many of the competitors have become household names over the years like snowboard/skateboarder Shaun White, freeskier Sarah Burke, skateboarder Tony Hawk, extreme skier Tanner Hall, snowboarder Shaun Palmer, BMX rider Dave Mirra, and freestyle supercross rider Travis Pastrana. These fine competitors have all become legends of the X Games.

Athletes at the 2012 Winter X Games look forward to another year of exciting competition, but do so with a heavy heart. Sarah Burke, a Canadian freestyle skier and four-time X Games gold medalist tragically passed away last week after a fall in a training run at Park City, Utah. Her friends promise to dedicate the 2012 Winter Games to her honor.

TV Schedule for 2012 Winter X Games

ESPN will broadcast most of this year’s coverage, but ABC joins in on the act on Saturday afternoon. Below is the TV schedule for the 2012 Winter X Games.

Friday, January 27th:

• 1:30 AM: X Center (ESPN2)
• 2:30 AM: 2012 Winter X Games Aspen (ESPN2)
• 12:30 PM: Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle Elimination (ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 3:30 PM: Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final (ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 8:30 PM: Men’s Ski SuperPipe Elimination (ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 10:30 PM: Snowboard Big Air Final (ESPN, ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 10:45 PM: Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe Final (ESPN, ESPN3 and ESPN3D)

Saturday, January 28th:

• 1:00 AM: X Center (ESPN2)
• 2:00 AM: 2012 Winter X Games Day 2 (ESPN2)
• 1:00 PM: Women’s Ski SuperPipe Final (ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 2:00 PM: Real Snow (ESPN2, ESNP3 and ESPN3D)
• 2:30 PM: Men’s Ski SuperPipe Final (ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 4:00 PM: Men’s and Women’s Superboarder X Final (ABC and ESPN 3D)
• 4:15 PM: Men’s Snowboarder Slopestyle Elimination (ABC and ESPN3D)
• 9:00 PM: Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final (ESPN, ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 9:30 PM: Ski Big Air Final (ESPN, ESPN3 and ESPN3D)

Sunday, January 29th:

• 1:00 AM: X Center (ESPN2)
• 2:00 AM: 2012 Winter Games Aspen Day 3 (ESPN2)
• 2:00 PM: Men’s and Women’s Skier X Final (ESPN, ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 2:15 PM: Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final (ESPN, ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 2:15 PM: Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe Final (ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3D)
• 4:45 PM: Mono Skier X Final (ESPN, ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 5:15 PM: Snowboard Street Final (ESPN, ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 9:00 PM: Snowmobile Best Trick Final (ESPN, ESPN3 and ESPN3D)
• 9:45 PM: Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe Final (ESPN, ESPN3 and ESPN3D)

Monday, January 30th:

• 1:00 AM: X Center (ESPN2)
• 2:00 AM: 2012 Winter X Games Aspen Day 4 (ESPN2)

Note from the Editor: The Magic of the Winter X Games in 3D

I had the opportunity to personally check out the Winter X Games in 3D yesterday and all I can say is, “Wow!” The combination of thrilling twists and turns and snowy scenery in brilliant 3D is over-the-top entertainment for sports and TV lovers. I caught some of women’s skiing, men’s snowboarding and SuperPipe skateboarding and the action truly came to life in blazing 3D detail.

When watching the X Games in 3D, the daring competitors seemingly jump off the screen and right into your living room. The result is so realistic that you’ll feel the need to put on a parka and grab a cup of steaming hot chocolate. When the skiers come to an abrupt stop at the bottom of the hill, causing snow to fly right at you, you feel like you’re actually in Aspen catching the competition live. Watching skiers, snowboarders and skateboarders zoom through the daredevil courses is ten times more thrilling in 3D. You can catch every detail, every nuance and every minute of the action like never before.

If you own a 3D TV or know someone who does, this TV editor highly recommends that you catch a few of the Winter X Games competitions in 3D. You’ll be amazed and glad you did.

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