If you follow any of the top ladies of the BMX world on social media - and I'm sure you do - chances are you caught that they've all joined together to speak out in favor of adding a women's class to the 2019 X Games. The women have been included in X Games for a number of years, but never in formal competition and never with the opportunity to take home one of those illustrious medals that so many of us have dreamed about one day clenching. According to BMX OG Nina Buitrago, the demo days are done and the ladies won't be returning until they get what they want.
Whether it's the Olympics entering the sport (and the funding that some women receive along with that), the amount of time more women are spending on their bikes, or simply a whole bunch of ladies mixing positive attitudes with hard work, we're in a great place. The progression rate is insane, we're seeing more ladies on bikes than ever before, more brands are sponsoring female riders than ever before, and Nina feels it's time that the event that has been the epicenter of freestyle BMX for the last two decades joins in on the fun.
We caught up with Nina to get her perspective on what exactly is going on -
When was the first women’s demo in X Games and how did that come to fruition?
According to X Games, 2018 was the first official demo for women's BMX park. Everything before that - from 2014 to 2017 - were considered "practice sessions." Before then - since 2003 - a couple of us were out in LA at the Staples Center every year with no real credentials advocating on our own dime - volunteering to get girls in the crowd on bikes on demo ramps and trying to get people to sign our petition to be allowed to compete. I'm pretty sure we even got Mat Hoffman to sign it every year!
Was there ever any discussion of women’s BMX being a medal event back then?
I've communicated that is what we want. Clearly they acknowledge it, but can only offer us whatever they can offer us each year. I agreed to continue the relationship if we could progress each year toward a medal event. This was the year they weren't able to offer any more than the previous and the women agreed that they are not risking themselves for another demo when they could be attending other events where they are welcomed to compete for medals and prize money as riders - as equals - like the Vans BMX Pro Cup.
Has X Games ever laid out a clear pathway for what the women could do to achieve this?
No.
If progress has been so small for so many years, why is now the time everyone has decided to band together and boycott?
After so many years of trying to make it happen, hoping every year that next year is the year and nothing happens, it's been disheartening. Last year, Hannah Roberts declined her invitation to ride the demo at X Games but, unfortunately, that wasn't enough of a statement. This year, we've decided to stand with her and also decline our invitations. Together we stand stronger. We have been in touch with the women's skateboarders over the years. They have had a lot of struggles to get where they are and they took their protest to the New York Times when two-out-of-three of their events got cut after lobbying for equal pay. After two years, the mainstream media covered their park demos and were able to get X Games to add their park category back two weeks before the event. Anything is possible. I'm not giving up hope.
Based on the social media push, it doesn’t seem that there have been any positivity coming from these conversations with X Games. Is that accurate?
None of it is anything I want to hear. It's just confusing, I guess, because we want to be there, but only if we can compete as equals and not as a sideshow. It's nice they want to keep the relationship going, but they cannot spell out what else it is we need to demonstrate or do at this point.
How have the men competing in X Games reacted to this?
It seems like everyone is behind us and wants us to be able to compete as well. It's just getting harder to answer the "why?" when we are asked why we don't have a class yet. It also seems like a lot of riders aren't willing to give up their category for us - nor would we ask them to - seeing as BMX is hanging on to what representation it even has left at X Games and their budgets - that supposedly keep getting cut.
Have you received any support from women athletes competing in other X Games disciplines?
I’ve gotten comments and had conversations with numerous X Games and Olympic medalists like Jamie Anderson, Jolene Van Vugt, Ashley Fiolek, Tarah Gieger, and almost all of the women's skateboarders. Many, many more than I can name!
X Games is a huge event with a lot of moving parts. I could be wrong, but I feel like this movement would have been far more beneficial six months ago. Is there a particular reason it’s happening this close to the actual event?
I sent follow-up e-mails to try to keep the conversation going. ESPN folk are usually tied up with Winter X Games. I get out-of-office replies and have to play phone tag a bit to be able to get on a call. There's really no good time to protest but, as we get closer and we haven't budged their opinion with our attempts to share numbers of top women in BMX's social media reach, it just seems like we don't have much to lose. We might as well bring what's happening up to the surface and see if we can get our fans and peers behind us.
Based on the aforementioned moving parts, do you think it would even be possible to add in women’s BMX as a medal event in X Games 2019? That seems like a pretty big ask to happen in two weeks…
Many have brought up the fact that there are multiple UCI / Olympic and Vans events for women. Is there a reason you still have a desire to be a part of X Games after they’ve driven you to this point?
Great question. I find myself asking that same question often and my response always lands on the connection to the bigger picture and future generation. Personally, I would still like to see women's BMX become a medal event - preferably sooner than later. Like, before I die would be awesome.
What do you want? I want details. Not just “Women’s BMX as a medal event.” When? Where? How many people? What course? All of the details!
I want to see the women's BMX park event fill the stands with a crowd, have an amazing contest, see some world's firsts, and deliver that energy. The magic we all feel from every event we have been a part of the last few years. I want twelve women minimum - with two alternates, equal media coverage, live coverage, prize money, and medals.
Have you heard anything back from the X Games crew since all of this took off?
No.
What’s your next move?
Most likely continue to put X Games on blast and let everyone know what’s happening while getting ready for next Vans BMX Pro Cup and then the points race for the Olympics!
What can the BMX community do to rally with the women in this quest?
Any final thoughts?
X Games - thanks for the opportunity to be involved over the years. It's been fun! BMX includes everyone - I'm grateful for that. We clearly don't need a television event to validate or include all of us, but it's what the women want and I'll stand up for that! If you support us, together we are stronger.
CHILDISHGAMBINO
7/31/2019 1:16 PM
I haven't seen a women's event for BMX but if it's as floppy and sad as women's skateboarding I don't think I want to.
T-Dawgg
7/22/2019 1:42 AM
X-games just doesn’t want to splash the cash. They probably are crunching the numbers and factoring in that 97% of everyday bmx riders in the world are male.....so why would they want to make the efforts to have a full program for females?
Sure it might turn that 97% to 92% one day but bmx is a pretty hard sport - and I often half jokingly say: you have to be a rageoholic to get good. I follow Ellie Chew and Lara Lessman on Instagram and they are great role models for girls bmx- but bmx is a fringe sport really (as of today) and surely it isn’t Women’s World Cup soccer (or skateboarding).
.
Nevertheless- if you want me to sign an online petition to shame X-games into creating a medaling event for females ......I’d be happy to sign it.
surrealsickness
7/19/2019 1:07 PM
Wow like anyone needs another reason to dislike the whole x games scene
Jacob_Anton
7/17/2019 12:47 PM
I completely agree that the level of women riding has EXPLODED in such a short time. The problem is that when compared to the best people im BMX the women completely suck. They ride awkward, slow, and many teenagers have better/equal skill level with much better style. Maybe if they rode in bikinis they could be more fun to watch and would be allowed in xgames. Same with womens skateboarding, only fun to watch when they have there asses out. I, like many like to watch competitions at a high level. thats probably what xgames is thinking
possenier
7/19/2019 2:47 AM
you compare them with riders that are at the top of their game. that is like saying as long as they don't run the 100m as fast as bolt girls have no place in athletics. This would be a good argument if they road against the boys, but they don't. they ride against other girls and than it's a plain level field. Last week we had the video here of a girl doing a frontflip on a mega ramp. The girl from the Netherlands i often ride with can do no handed front flips and does flip whips. all things you and i can't do. but let's get this discussion back to the core. the fact that X-games has been lying and stalling for over 10 years against these girls and promise them "next year" every time. enough is enough.
Jacob_Anton
7/19/2019 1:25 PM
Well when you watch the xgames and first see a person doing some awesome shredding and the next event is using the same equipment though with less than half the shred (and only by a couple people), you tend to want to change the channel
Though big air for women I think would be cool however I dont think there is enough competitors. Street for women is a joke, same with park.
Jacob_Anton
7/19/2019 1:32 PM
can you please link to the flipwhip, i cant find it while searching. it sounds dope though
possenier
7/17/2019 9:52 AM
Kyle Baldock
Nick Bruce
Pat Casey
Marcus Christopher
Larry Edgar
Dennis Enarson
Brandon Loupos
Logan Martin
Rim Nakamura
Kevin Peraza
Daniel Sandoval
Jose Torres
these are the guys who can solve this in 10 seconds if they unite and take the side of the woman...
Adam_Stauffer
7/17/2019 11:25 AM
I mean you could list the invited Street, Dirt, Vert, and Big Air riders also. This is an issue that goes beyond disciplines. And as Nina said in the interview, X-Games has been trying to discard BMX events for the last decade or so. They axed Flatland and Dirt (brought it back recently though) and give limited invitation slots to the other BMX events (a far cry from the 30+ rider contests you used to see in X-Games BMX during the 90s and 00s). A lot of riders rely on X-Games for their income (not just the cash prizes but also name recognition and getting sponsorship recognition). A complete boycott of the X-Games by all BMX riders would pretty much end BMX at X-Games. I'm no fan of X-Games. I don't even watch it anymore (I would rather watch the Vans Pro Cup). I'm just simply saying that the industry is a tough go right now and riders have to look out for themselves.
possenier
7/17/2019 2:54 PM
The skaters did it a few years ago, and x-games put girls back in.
and i know it's hard for company's right now, but that is why they need to stick together.
it only works when we all work together
but doing nothing is part of the problem.
eskimojay
7/19/2019 1:34 PM
We’re Bmx riders , we aren’t skate boarders , and we don’t have the numbers skate boarders do , bmx riders need to stop thinking they are skateboarders and start thinking they are bmx riders
Jacob_Anton
7/17/2019 1:29 PM
its not a matter of what other pros say. BMX was on the chopping block and adding sub par athletes for the purpose of whats between their legs is not going to get the viewers xgames is looking for.
possenier
7/17/2019 3:00 PM
if they would not make money from bmx we would not be there. the fact we are, and now even with 4 sports means we make money for them. that also means they should do something back. and girls park is number 1 on the list. you said in the other post people won't watch, but you have to remember where we came from. X games 1 dirt was won with a 360, Tailwhip and backflip. not a 3flip whip. no, a 360 over the first set, whip the 2nd and flip the last set. every girl entering would be able to do these and more. And you look at it with the eyes of a bmx rider and that is normal, but you have to look at it with eyes of a 10 year old girl, seeing a girl do a frontflip over a box. that is why it's important they have there own event.
Jacob_Anton
7/17/2019 4:43 PM
dude did you see the first video in this post, they can barely clear the box jump and 100% cant even flip it properly. Barely saw anyone air out of coping. I highly doubt they can compete in dirt unless they make special small tabeltop jumps. Its embarrassing to watch, the only thing that makes it special is whats between their legs. They have no power and awkward style. Its just like saying we should allow kindergartner sports teams to have a category in the Olympics. Some people might like that however the majority are not there to watch a mediocre performance. For the record I think its great that girls are enjoying bmx, though they are not even close to the level to be top at their sport and honestly, they never will (unless one of the top guys changes their identity
)
*if a girl wants to get inspired, simply type in women bmx in google...... Or watch the FISE competitions.
Adam_Stauffer
7/19/2019 6:30 AM
Two words: Perris Benegas
Jacob_Anton
7/19/2019 1:20 PM
and thats the problem, its only two words..... not a list of riders lol.
cigforzoot
8/2/2019 6:00 AM
It is a fair point though because not even Perris could compete at an amateur level in a mixed gender field, unsponsored riders at my local parks can do frontflip variations, 3 flips, and serious heavy tricks, a 4 foot tbog air or a can can over the box isn't gonna cut it and doesn't automatically deserve a spot at x games just because they're there, it doesn't have the following that skateboarding does and to assume so is to be naive, I just doubt there's enough audience that will be interested in watching mediocre level biking.
Bulletpup
7/27/2019 7:05 PM
Did you say chopping block and whats between their legs in the same comment on purpose?