Good-time kids now big-time competitors

There was a time not long ago when the X Games weren’t the mecca of action sports events that they are today.

The year was 1995, and what was then known as the Extreme Games were held in Newport, Providence and Middletown, R.I., and Mount Snow, Vt. Nearly 200,000 spectators turned out over eight days to watch athletes compete in 27 events in nine sport categories, including bungee jumping, street luge and skysurfing.

Not everyone was sure what the games were about, why ESPN was involved or even if the event would be repeated. But the athletes were certain of one thing: They had a lot of fun.

“You know, the first year, for sure, I think a lot of people were kind of questioning the objectives of why ESPN wanted to air our sport,” says Dave Mirra, the legendary freestyle BMX rider who will be in Los Angeles to compete in the 10th annual X Games, which airs Thursday through Aug. 8 on ABC and ESPN.

“A lot of us thought probably the wrong way: ‘Ah, they’re just in it for the money or whatever,’ Mira says. “Coming into the ’96 season, I realized, ‘Man, this is going to be around for a while. I’m going to take it seriously.’ And that’s when I kind of just said, ‘You know what? If it doesn’t last [so be it]. But if it does, let’s take it seriously and look to the long-term goal -- achievements.’ ”

He certainly has achieved. Mirra, a resident of Greenville, N.C., has more X Games gold medals (12) than anyone else and 16 medals overall. He is credited with being the first rider ever to pull a double back flip in competition. He was voted freestyler of the year by BMX magazine in 1999, won BMX rider of the year at the inaugural ESPN Action Sports & Music Awards in 2001 and was named NORA Cup rider of the year in 2003.

The X Games have grown right along with Mirra. They have morphed into a world-class event that attracts more than 150 athletes to compete in aggressive in-line skating, bike stunts, moto X, skateboarding, surfing and wakeboarding. For the first time this year, it has drawn live coverage on ABC and ESPN. The prize money has grown over the years as well, from $2,500 for a first-place finish in ’95 to $25,000 this year.

That ratchets up the pressure on the athletes, says Mirra, who recalls a very casual atmosphere among the athletes in 1995. “We didn’t know how to take it,” he says, “so we just said, ‘Hey, it’s another contest.’ It wasn’t like, obviously, as calculated as we do a lot of the other events now.... And now, you know, the stakes are high, there’s a lot riding on it.”

“The money back then wasn’t enough to really live off of if you won a contest,” Mirra continues. “But now the contest prize money is through the roof, so you have huge potential. If you win a main event, that’s a lot of money.”

Mirra recalls that he came in second in 1995. “I got $1,000 for that. Back then, it was a lot because my cost of living, obviously, was way cheaper. But just the fact that I got $1,000 back then was insane.”

How would he like to see the X Games progress over the next decade? “I think it’s on the right track right now,” Mirra says. “Most importantly, athletes are having a good time and progressing, and people are watching it and they’re loving what they see.”

For his part, the 30-year-old Mirra has no plans to retire from competitive riding. But when he does, he knows how he wants to be remembered.

“I definitely want to be remembered for what I gave back and what I contributed to competitive riding,” he says. “And that there was my time and there was my era where winning was definitely the main goal, and you can’t always win. But I just want to know that I made a mark in the history of the X Games, for streaks, as far as the five-year streak in street [riding] or just all the gold medals, that I was definitely a tough competitor at one point.”

A tough competitor, yes, but one who rode to have fun. “You know, I’m competitive with myself, for sure,” he says. “But I don’t ride to win. I ride to ride my best, and if winning is what happens, then that’s awesome.... It’s just go ride your best, and try not to analyze it too much. And most importantly, have fun with it.”

George Dickie writes for Tribune Media Services.

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X Games

On ESPN: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

On ABC: 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday;

1 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on

Aug. 8.