Image via Complex Original
Since it’s inception in 1997 at Mountain Resort in Big Bear Lake, Calif., the Winter X Games have been a place for action sports athletes to showcase some of the most incredible stunts ever performed on the powder. Whether it be on skis, a snowboard, or even a snowmobile, the tricks seem to get crazier and crazier every season. This year, winter athletes from across the globe will once again flock to Aspen, Colo., the home of the competition since 2002, in hopes of outdoing one another to bring home the goods. In order to get you primed for the next three days of extreme action, we took a look back at some of the more daring moves ever pulled off. From Heath Frisby landing the first-ever front flip on a snowmobile in 2012 to Kelly Clark’s gold medal-winning frontside 1080 at the same games, check out these, Winter X Games Tricks We Would Never, Ever Try, in GIFs.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
Shaun White With the Frontside Double-Cork 1260
Year: 2013
Competition: Men's Snowboard SuperPipe
Athlete: Shaun White
In case this one left you with any doubt, The Flying Tomato did indeed take home gold by pulling off such moves at last year's competition in Aspen. White pulls off the 1260, sticks the smooth landing, and walks away with a 98.00 point run. Get em'!
Kay Turski Nails the Rail-to-540 Combo
Year: 2013
Competition: Women's Ski SlopeStyle
Athlete: Kaya Turski
Watch closely because Kaya Turski isn't just doing this jump off a wide ramp—not that we would even attempt this move with a slightly easier run up—he takes flight off a skinny rail. Yeah, that's kind of crazy. The Canadian even throws in a little ski grab right before the landing. This run was good enough for silver in last year's SlopeStyle event.
The Moores' Tandem Back Flip
Year: 2011
Competition: Snowmobile Best Trick
Athlete: Caleb and Colten Moore
You know how they say that siblings have some special connection, or something? Well, Caleb and Colten Moore should be the poster boys for such assertions. Lord knows it's hard enough to land a back flip on a 500-pound snowmobile, let alone do it with two people. Yeesh, they just clear the hill to stick the landing. R.I.P. Caleb.
Mark McMorris Freezes Time With This Backside Double-Cork 1260
Year: 2012
Competition: Men's Snowboard SlopeStyle
Athlete: Mark McMorris
Yeah, three and a half rotations off one jump is definitely the way to take home X Games gold. McMorris looks like he's floating on the backs of angel wings, with the grace with which he pulls this one off. Absolute perfection from McLovin.
Kelly Clark's Frontside 900
Year: 2013
Competition: Women's Snowboard SuperPipe
Athlete: Kelly Clark
Kelly Clark made it a three-peat with her SuperPipe gold medal performance last year. This frontside 900 during her final run helped seal the deal, and left us applauding with our mouths open. Can Clark make it a golden sombrero this year?
The Flying Tomato's McTwist 1260
Year: 2010
Competition: Men's Snowboard SuperPipe
Athlete: Shaun White
Oh, Shaun White. Who cares if this landing isn't perfect? The American pulls off a ridiculous 1260 with some major air. You already know your boy took home gold in the event. In fact, everyone's favorite red head has taken home gold in SuperPipe every year since 2003, except for when he had to settle for silver in '07. #consistency
Frisby Lands the First Front Flip
Year: 2012
Competition: Snowmobile Best Trick
Athlete: Heath Frisby
Check out Heath Frisby landing the first-ever front flip at the Winter X Games. Yes, the groundbreaking move earned Frisby gold for Winter X Best Trick. Did we mention the dude right before him completely ate it on an attempted double back flip? No fear.
Brown's Triple-Stitch Double Misty 1440
Year: 2010
Competition: Men's Ski Big Air
Athlete: Bobby Brown
Round, and round, Bobby Brown goes. Seriously, how the hell did he stick the landing, let alone do it backwards? Who says actions sports aren't cool? This shit is absolutely nuts.
Kelly Clark's Smooth Frontside 1080
Year: 2012
Competition: Women's Snowboard SuperPipe
Athlete: Kelly Clark
There's no doubt that this frontside 1080 on Kelly Clark's final run in 2012 helped her take home the gold. She slides into the move so cleanly, executes to perfection, and lands knowing she's got the top spot sewn up.
The Young Gun Earns His First X Gold
Year: 2013
Competition: Men's Ski SlopeStyle
Athlete: Nick Goepper
Combine two full rotations in the air with the fact that homie nailed a perfect backwards landing, and you get one shiny gold medal. The top prize in SlopeStyle was 18-year-old Nick Goepper's first at the Winter X Games. He would say after, that it was the best day of his life.
Silje Norendal's Frontside Rodeo
Year: 2012
Competition: Women's Snowboard SlopeStyle
Athlete: Silje Norendal
If the contortion of the body on this jump isn't enough to wow you, how about the board grab for a little extra sumthin' sumthin'? With runs like this, Norendal held off the competition and brought home gold at X Games Tignes.
Joe Parsons Pulls Off the First "Gator Hater"
Year: 2013
Competition: Snowmobile Best Trick
Athlete: Joe Parsons
All you need to realize about this ridiculous move by Joe Parsons, is that fam started off facing forwards, and landed facing the opposite direction. Can you believe Parsons only took home silver for his troubles? We demand a recount. No? Okay, we'll just keep watching this instead.
E'Dollo's Insane Nose Butter Triple-Cork 1620
Year: 2013
Competition: Men's Ski Big Air
Athlete: Henrik Harlaut
With a name as ridiculous as Nose Butter Triple-Cork 1620, you just knew this move was going to be absolutely insane. We'd need to be on some serious hallucinogenics to even attempt such a stunt. The trick, and backwards landing, earned Henrik Harlaut a final score of 97, and a shiny gold medal to hold on the plane ride back to Sweden.
Bleiler's Crippler 720 is Golden
Year: 2010
Competition: Women's Snowboard SuperPipe
Athlete: Gretchen Bleiler
Yup, this crippler 720 executed to perfection by American Gretchen Bleiler was worthy of gold back in 2010. Damn, what a move, and what a landing. Apparently, Bleiler has been making headlines off her board as well. Work it, girl.
Horgmo's Gravity-Defying Switch Backside Triple-Cork 1440
Year: 2013
Competition: Men's Snowboard Big Air
Athlete: Torstein Horgmo
ds;gflsdhfgdjklshfg;ad! How you do that, Torstein Horgmo? You don't even have to ask, Horgmo obviously took home gold for this incredible move and landing. In fact, they renamed the Big Air competition the Horgmo Classic. Well, not really but they should.