Scrapbook: Lacey Baker 2019 Summer X Games
Scrapbook documents the best festivals, events, activations and experiences. Using film photography, we’ll give you an inside look into events from around the globe.
Since 1995, ESPN’s X Games has been the premier annual extreme sports competition. Each year, the world’s best athletes in skateboarding, motocross, snowboarding, skiing and the like battle it out trick-for-trick, hoping to take home the gold and earn year-long bragging rights.
Over the years, X Games has become the hallowed grounds for many firsts, from Tony Hawk’s iconic 900 aerial spin at the 1999 games, to Travis Pastrana’s double-backflip at 2006’s MotoX Best Trick. This past contest was no different, as pro skater Mitchie Brusco topped The Birdman with the world’s first 1260 — and yet he still didn’t win gold, falling behind Elliot Sloan’s killer combo of an indy 720 into a 900 tail-grab. That’s how fierce the competition is at X Games.
Behind the scenes however, it’s all love and camaraderie. Athletes from around the world recognize that no matter who finishes No. 1, the X Games is a chance to elevate and legitimize their beloved sports. Take skateboarding for example; once considered a public nuisance, the activity will make its debut as an official Olympic sport at the 2020 Tokyo Games thanks to the many years of ESPN bringing it into the homes of millions.
Competing to be among the first-ever skateboarding Olympians is Lacey Baker, a 27-year-old non-binary skater for Nike. A seven-time X Games medalist and 2017’s nominee for Best Female Action Sports Athlete ESPY Award, Baker is one of the most respected names in skateboarding. With the support of Nike and fellow athletes, Baker has become one of the few voices championing the LGBTQ+ movement and gender equality within all of sports.
Here at HYPEBEAST we’re big fans of Baker, so we asked them to document their experience at the 2019 X Games in Minneapolis for our Scrapbook series. Check out the rare glimpse below as well as a few words about how they competed, what they enjoy most about the city and more.
Victor Cruz
“Don’t wear uncomfortable shoes. You’re going to be on your feet a lot walking around. Also, don’t wait till the last minute to hit your friends up for your artist passes or credentials or the things you need to finesse through the festival.”
Snoop Dogg
“You got to have a mask, you got to have something that’s going to cover your face because it's going to get dusty. You have dress light because it's going to be hot but at nighttime it's a possibility that it could be cold, so you want to have both outfits. You want to have a night outfit and a day outfit. You want to stay hydrated and have a lot of fruits in your system and vegetables, if you know what I mean. Just vibe, because it's all positivity and all love; everybody is out here just living their life and just enjoying their time for Coachella. It's a great place that brings all kinds of people together so you’ll fit right in no matter who you are or where you’re from.”
Day 4: Desert Sundays - The Do Over, #REVOLVEFestival, 1Oak x Gravity Technologies Coachella Closing Party
What are some rules for Coachella or music festivals in general?
Todd Gurley: “It’s a music festival, there are no rules. You’re supposed to do what you’re not supposed to do that’s why you go to a festival.”
Describe your weekend in two words?
Nostalgic, fun.
Who or what did you enjoy watching the most this year?
I love seeing Alexis [Sablone] skate!
Describe your weekend in two words?
Nostalgic, fun.
Who or what did you enjoy watching the most this year?
I love seeing Alexis [Sablone] skate!
What were you doing when you weren’t competing?
Spending time with my trainer Jess, taking care of my body, playing guitar in the athlete lounge and eating cereal.
How did you skate/compete?
I enjoyed skating the course, I was able to get creative and take small steps outside my comfort zone.
What are you most proud of and what do you wish you did better?
I was very proud of doing a tuck knee grab! But I wish I would have went faster.
How did you skate/compete?
I enjoyed skating the course, I was able to get creative and take small steps outside my comfort zone.
What are you most proud of and what do you wish you did better?
I was very proud of doing a tuck knee grab! But I wish I would have went faster.
What were you doing when you weren’t competing?
Spending time with my trainer Jess, taking care of my body, playing guitar in the athlete lounge and eating cereal.
What are your favorite things about Minneapolis?
The Gay ‘90s.
What’s next for you on the skateboarding front?
Lots of competitions this year. Looking forward to when that slows down and I can get back out in the streets and film more clips.
What’s next for you on the skateboarding front?
Lots of competitions this year. Looking forward to when that slows down and I can get back out in the streets and film more clips.