Day One Finals Recap at X Games Chiba 2024

Day One Finals X Games Chiba 2024

The third edition of X Games in Japan is on and popping! X Games Chiba 2024 draws sold-out crowds, and Monster Energy athletes claim podiums in the world’s biggest action sports showcase.

On the first day of medal competitions inside Makuhari Messe stadium, the team claimed three bronze medals in three skateboard medal events.

Here’s how it all went down for the team at X Games Chiba 2024 on Saturday:

MENS SKATEBOARD VERT

TOM SCHAAR CLINCHES BRONZE ON FINAL RUN OF THE NIGHT

HIGH STAKES: The Men’s Skateboard Vert final featured some of the world’s most acclaimed vertical riders. In this elite field, 25-year-old Tom Schaar from Malibu, California, dropped in as the rider to beat after claiming his first Skateboard Vert gold at X Games Ventura this summer. But as the 30-minute jam session got underway, many of the top seeded riders struggled to put a perfect run together – including Schaar. 

BACK TO THE WALL: When it all came down to final runs, Schaar found his groove and landed alley-oop backside 540 melon, backside 540 tailgrab, alley-oop heelflip Indy nosebone, frontside nosegrind, kickflip Indy to fakie, Cab 720 tailgrab, alley-oop backside lipslide, kickflip body varial 540, bigspin backside lipslide, backside 360 tailgrab fakie, and fakie 5-0 grind for 89.00 points and the bronze medal.

THE WONDERKID: Known for landing the world’s first 1080-degree aerial on a Mega Ramp, Schaar began competing at X Games in 2012 at the mere age of 12. Fast-forward to today and he’s become one of the most accomplished and versatile skateboarders on the circuit. He owns medals from five different disciplines (Big Air, Big Air Doubles, Vert, Park, MegaPark) and only recently emerged as a top star in Skateboard Vert.  

TWO MORE SHOTS AT GOLD: Schaar still has a busy weekend ahead at X Games Chiba 2024. He will go for gold in the Men’s Skateboard Park final and recently claimed silver in the discipline at the Paris 2024 Games this summer. He’s also never earned gold in Skateboard Vert Best Trick, will this be the time? Stay tuned! 

Schaar now owns 13 X Games medals (2 gold, 4 silver, 7 bronze).

WOMEN’S SKATEBOARD STREET

AKAMA CLAIMS BRONZE AS HER SIXTH X GAMES MEDAL

STACKING MEDALS: At only 15 years of age, Liz Akama from Miyagi, Japan, already boasts an outstanding resume. Heading into X Games Chiba 2024, she owned five medals from four X Games appearances. Plus, she earned silver in her debut at the 2024 Paris Games, alongside wins in Street League Skateboarding (SLS) and World Skate competitions. Special!

PUTTING IT DOWN WHEN IT COUNTS: When the action moved into the Women’s Skateboard Street final, Akama held it down with her signature mix of technical tricks and rail moves. 

Holding her own in a high-stakes final session, Akama put together backside Smith grind the rail, 180 to fakie 50-50 on bump to ledge, frontside bigspin the bank, backside lipslide the small rail, Barley grind 180 (frontside 180 to switch Smith grind) on flat bar, and frontside 270 to switch frontside boardslide the rail for 83.00 points and the bronze medal.

Akama now owns 6 X Games medals (3 silver, 3 bronze). 

MONSTER ENERGY MEN’S SKATEBOARD STREET BEST TRICK

NYJAH HUSTON CLAIMS BRONZE WITH A FACE-MELTING TRICK

HUNTING FOR RECORDS: Known as the winningest street skateboarder in history, 29-year-old Nyjah Huston from Laguna Beach, California, came to Chiba on the hunt to extend his roster of records. He already owns the most X Games gold medals in skateboarding at 15 gold medals, with a record-setting eleven gold medals earned in the Skateboard Street event. He’s also in the running for most X Games medals ever and came to Chiba looking to collect more!

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY: As the Monster Energy Men’s Skateboard Street Best Trick session got underway with seven of the world’s most innovative skateboarders, the big handrail next to the stair set emerged as the hot spot for earning top rankings. With the level of difficulty at an all-time high, Huston dropped a hammer: On his fourth attempt, Huston locked down a half-Cab kickflip to crooked grind on the rail to earn the bronze medal.

As the owner of 24 X Games medals, Huston is now tied with BMX rider Dave Mirra for second-most X Games medals of all time. Make sure to tune in when Huston returns on Sunday with another shot at expanding his record-setting medal collection in the Men’s Skateboard Street event.

Huston now owns 24 X Games medals (15 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze).

Stay tuned when X Games Chiba 2024 returns on Sunday with competitions in BMX, Skate, and Moto X disciplines!