Iconic winter X Games comes to Calgary

The iconic X Games action sports competition is coming to Calgary in February next year.

WinSport's Canada Olympic Park will host the three-day competition beginning Feb. 19, and the city will also see international musical acts Levity and Steve Aoki perform as part of the event.

The Calgary stop marks the first time in the 31-year history of the X Games that the competition will be hosted in Canada. 

“X Games is one of those events you dream of hosting in your city,” said Tourism Calgary president and CEO Alisha Reynolds. “There is truly no better city than Calgary to host this electrifying event.” 

The event will see some of the world's top skiers and snowboarders compete in events like Big Air, Knuckle Huck, Slopestyle and Superpipe. 

Officials estimate roughly 15,000 to 20,000 spectators will attend the three days of competition.

Reynolds estimates the event will bring in roughly $25 million for the city’s visitor economy.

Calgarian Brendan Mackay, a freestyle skier with Team Canada, is excited to have the event come to his hometown. Mackay remembers what a podium finish at his first X Games in 2020 meant for his career. 

“That was honestly for me a huge career-defining moment,” said Mackay. “That really set into motion what has been a really great athletic career since then.”

Growing up watching the games on TV inspired Mackay, and he says hosting could have an even bigger impact on the next generation.

Historically Aspen, Colo., has hosted many of the winter X Games events and therefore produced some of the sports' best athletes, says Mackay.

“So I think having that come to Calgary will be so impactful on all the young kids who get to go out and watch it,” he said. 

Mike Atkinson breaks down Brendan Mackay's