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Pro skaters Nyjah Huston and Ryan Sheckler, along with pro BMX rider Ryan Williams, have been tapped to get X Games' new league up and running.
“Founder Athletes” contribute directly to the league’s development, share input with special regard to “design formats”, “shape athlete experience,” and help “build a fan-first culture,” as per the X Games announcement.
The League itself, announced in June 2024, offers a brand new format for action sports that typically feature primarily individual competition. Borrowing from mainstream sports like Formula One and the NBA, “XGL introduces team-based competition, season-long storylines, and a structure that encourages fan loyalty, athlete development, and commercial sustainability.”
The league kicks off in Summer 2026 with skateboarding and BMX serving as its first two disciplines. The Winter X Games League (WXGL) will follow in early 2027, focusing on snowboarding and skiing.
Nyjah Huston, perhaps the most famous of the three, said “I’m stoked to compete in my 20th year of X Games as a founder athlete of X Games League,” said Huston. “The new format gives sponsors and media more opportunities to tell the awesome stories of our athletes that often get overlooked compared to mainstream sports. I’m hyped to be part of something that keeps the competition going and builds more excitement for the fans.”
“X Games League is attempting to innovate just like we do with action sports,” added Williams. “I’m excited to introduce the aspect of team into an already tight-knit community within action sports.”
According to the press release, XGL seeks to move beyond the traditional event model and take inspiration from other broadcast sports. Creating opportunities for drafts and team rivalries will open up chances for greater media storytelling and sponsorship opportunities.
XGL also signals a broader shift within X Games. In January 2024, an AI-powered judging and commentary system was tested at the Winter X Games in Aspen. X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom has since spun the technology off into its own company, Owl AI. Clearly, innovation is central to the brand’s emerging identity. What that means for athletes and fans remains to be seen, but we’re opptimistic. Greater visibility for the niche sports we love spells greater opportunity.
Expect more Founder Athletes, team names, season schedules, and broadcast details to drop in the coming months as X Games gears up for the Summer 2026 debut.
The future of X Games is glaringly bright-- it might be time to invest in some sunglasses.