Monster Energy Athletes Claim Win and Podium Spots at X Games Chiba 2024

The third edition of X Games Japan is in the books! The final day of competitions at X Games Chiba 2024 brought wins and never-been-done tricks for Team Monster Energy.

On the last day of competitions inside Makuhari Messe stadium, the Monster Energy Team claimed 8 medals (3 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze) across five contest events in the 71st edition of X Games.

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

MEN’S SKATEBOARD PARK

TOM SCHAAR CLINCHES WIN IN NAIL-BITING FINAL

THE MISSING PIECE: Without a doubt, 25-year-old Tom Schaar is one of the best transition skaters on the circuit right now. Fresh off a silver medal from Paris 2024, his diverse talents have earned the Malibu native medals across five different disciplines (Big Air, Big Air Doubles, Vert, Park, MegaPark). But coming into Chiba 2024, he was lacking one thing: A win in the Men’s Skateboard Park event. Time for a change!

GETTING THE ELUSIVE WIN: In his second run, Schaar landed heelflip Indy the extension, backside lipslide, frontside stalefish 360 over box, backside Ollie, huge tailgrab 540, frontside feeble grind the corner, kickflip Indy over the box, 5-0 grind the hip, transfer to frontside nosegrind extension, alley-oop kickflip Indy over hip, frontside tailslide, kickflip Indy fakie, and Caballerial Losi grind for 90.66 points and his first X Games gold medal in Men’s Skateboard Park. 

Schaar now owns 14 X Games medals (three gold, four silver, and seven bronze).

WOOLLEY GETS SILVER: Schaar’s heaviest competition came from his Monster Energy teammate, 20-year-old Kieran Woolley from Kiama Downs, Australia, in the silver medal position. In his highest-scoring run, Woolley put together an Indy nosebone the extension, backside tailgrab 360 the box, kickflip Indy the deep end, transfer to backside 5-0 grind, alley-oop frontside 5-0 grind, frontside invert, gap up backside lipslide the extension, backside Smith grind, ollie transfer the channel, frontside feeble grind, rail wallie the rail over the box, frontside blunt the extension, frontside nosegrind the tall box, and invert backside revert for 88.33 points and second place.

Woolley now owns three X Games medals (one gold and two silver).

BMX PARK BEST TRICK

SANDOVAL GETS FIRST CAREER WIN, MALOTT CLINCHES SILVER

RAISING THE BAR(SPIN): The crowd at X Games Japan was in for a treat in the BMX Park Best Trick session. With the world’s top riders throwing down their most innovative tricks in a 30-minute progression session, it took a special move to claim the win. Turns out, 30-year-old Daniel Sandoval from Corona, California, had just the trick: Blasting higher than most other riders, Sandoval sent a huge flair double whip to late barspin on the quarter pipe to claim the gold medal as his career-first in the discipline.

“I’ve been trying to chase the Park Best Trick gold medal for a while. It’s been a struggle since my first invite to the event, so I’m happy to finally secure it and get first,” said Monster Energy’s Sandoval upon claiming the gold medal at X Games Chiba 2024.

Sandoval now owns nine X Games medals (three gold, one silver, and five bronze).

MALOTT GETS SECOND PLACE: Also rising to the podium, 27-year-old Jeremy Malott from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, stoked the crowd with a technical banger: On his fifth attempt, Malott put down a perfect 180 double tailwhip to late barspin over the box backward for the silver medal.

“The Best Trick event here at Chiba 2024 was absolutely insane; everyone was sending it. It was such a back-and-forth battle, watching the scores change after every attempt, so I'm thankful that my last attempt got me the silver medal,” said Malott at X Games Chiba 2024.

Malott now owns three X Games medals (one silver, and two bronze).

WOMEN’S SKATEBOARD PARK

ARISA TREW CLAIMS THIRD GOLD IN A ROW

MILESTONE YEAR: 2024 has been a wild ride for 14-year-old Monster Army rider Arisa Trew from Palm Beach, Australia. Her victories include double gold at X Games Ventura 2024 (Skateboard Vert & Park), as well as winning Tony Hawk’s Vert Alert, the World Skate Championship, and gold at Paris 2024. Plus, she also pushed the boundaries by landing women’s first 900-degree airs and switch McTwists. How about adding another win in Japan?

WALK-OFF VICTORY: Sitting in second place until final runs rolled around, Trew put it all together for a walk-off victory. A perfect combo of backside air the extension, body varial 540, frontside Smith grind the corner, backside air over the box, front crooked grind fakie, switch backside air over box, fakie mute 360, kickflip Indy, gap to frontside lipslide the extension, McTwist on volcano, mute air, Indy 360 to fakie, and switch backside air earned Trew 91.66 points and her third consecutive gold medal in the discipline.

Trew now owns five X Games gold medals.

SKATEBOARD VERT BEST TRICK

SHIBATA LANDS MIND-MELTING NEW TRICK FOR SILVER

SETTLING THE SCORE: After finishing outside of podium contention in Saturday’s Skateboard Vert final, 28-year-old Moto Shibata from Osaka, Japan, would not leave the third edition of X Games in his own country without a medal. And he had just the right trick up his sleeve for the 30-minute jam session…

UNVEILING A NEW TRICK: Putting down a contest-first landed trick, Shibata took the silver medal in the event. His front foot impossible Lien 540 – combining a one-and-a-half rotation with a board varial around the foot – stoked the crowd and judges, earning Shibata second place at X Games Chiba 2024.

Shibata now owns Nine X Games medals (one gold, seven silver, and one bronze).

MOTO X BEST TRICK

STRONG TAKES SILVER, WHILE LEGEND HIGASHINO CLINCHES BRONZE

UNCERTAINTY LOOMS: This year’s Moto X Best Trick event was overshadowed by uncertainty. First, gusting winds on Saturday caused the event to be postponed. Then, a hard crash during practice called the entire event into question. Ultimately, fans had the chance to enjoy the contest on Sunday night.

STRONG CLAIMS SILVER: When the final came down to the wire, 32-year-old Jackson Strong from Lockhart, Australia, walked away with the silver medal in the event. A perfectly poised Cliffhanger frontflip earned Strong 94.00 points and second place.

“I probably fell short a little bit of what I wanted to and thought I had a little bit more in the tank. It was a little hard with practice and the weather. But I’m not making excuses and will do better next time,” said Monster Energy’s Strong upon claiming the silver medal at X Games Chiba 2024.

Strong now owns 17 X Games medals (eight gold, six silver, and three bronze).

THE LEGEND CONTINUES: When it comes to legends of Moto X, the conversation definitely includes 39-year-old style icon Taka Higashino. The style icon from Osaka has single-handedly put the Japanese freestyle motocross scene on the map. And he’s not done: In front of a hometown crowd of Japanese fans, “Taka” rose to the podium in third place. Making his 20th X Games appearance, Higashino put down a stylish Rock Solid backflip to earn a score of 86.00 points and the bronze medal.

“It was crazy with the weather. We had to wait all week with just a little bit of practice. And then Harry [Bink] had a big crash on the final warmup. So we almost stopped the competition. But luckily, everyone was safe,” said Higashino.

Higashino now owns six X Games medals (three gold, one silver, and two bronze).

And that’s a wrap! Over the course of X Games Chiba 2024, the Monster Energy team claimed 11 X Games medals (three gold, four silver, and four bronze). Congrats to the team.