X Games bring elite action sports to New Orleans

The big picture: X Games New Orleans is the championship event for the new X Games League's summer season.

• The new format has athletes on one of four teams racking up points in a multi-city global competition. It comes to a head in New Orleans July 24–26.

The intrigue: For local athletes and fans, the X Games are a unique opportunity to see action sports athletes and maybe kick off a new passion.

• Action sports are "uncommon in south Louisiana," says Destrehan native Broc Raiford, a two-time X Games medalist.
• Though his dad was already into action sports, something clicked into place for Raiford when he saw Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huck Jam stop at the New Orleans Arena in 2003. "The first time I saw that," Raiford says, "I was hooked."

From there, Raiford developed his specialty as a BMX rider despite relatively few places to practice in South Louisiana as he grew up.

• The region has many more skate parks today, he says, which is important for kids to explore action sports.
• "It's really nice to be able to go home and see the contrast between when I was growing up to now," he says. There are "places where I can safely participate in my sport and not have to worry about security guards or my own safety."

What he's saying: And now, Raiford gets to be the guy showing young Louisianans the international stage that action sports can provide.

• "It's just really awesome for someone like myself who spent my lifetime devoted to a sport like BMX to showcase that to my home city," he says.

If you go: Tickets for the Superdome and Smoothie King Center events are available on Ticketmaster.

• The full schedule is on the X Games website.