The atmosphere in Sacramento reached a fever pitch on Saturday as the MoonPay X Games 2026 entered its second day. With a backdrop of perfect California weather and a capacity crowd, the event marked a pivotal shift in the history of action sports: the official debut of the X Games League and its innovative team-based format. As the sun beat down on the course, the intensity of the competition matched the fervor of the fans, setting the stage for a day defined by broken records, historic podiums, and a high-voltage musical conclusion.
The New Era: X Games League Takes Flight
Day Two was more than just a series of events; it was a structural milestone for the sport. The introduction of the team-based format—featuring squads like XC New York, XC São Paulo, and XC Tokyo—has fundamentally altered the strategic landscape of the competition. Athletes are no longer just competing for individual glory; they are now battling for team points, fostering a new level of camaraderie and rivalry that was palpable across every discipline.
The integration of these teams into the event schedule has provided a clear narrative arc for viewers, transforming individual successes into collective victories. Whether it was Ginwoo Onodera’s dominant run for XC New York or Arisa Trew’s continued excellence for XC Tokyo, the new league structure has provided a roadmap for the future of professional action sports.
Chronology of Champions: A Recap of Day Two
The day’s schedule was a relentless barrage of elite talent, spanning the heights of vertical skateboarding, the technical precision of street skating, and the gravity-defying maneuvers of Moto X and BMX.
The Vert Arena: Khury and Trew Rule the Ramps
The morning sessions belonged to the vert specialists, headlined by the indefatigable Gui Khury. Despite competing with a broken hand, the 17-year-old sensation from XC São Paulo defied logic to claim gold in the Men’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick. His landing of a kickflip body varial 900—executed with his uninjured hand—secured his sixth consecutive gold in the discipline. Khury’s performance solidified his standing as the most decorated teenager in X Games history, boasting 16 career medals.
In the women’s division, Arisa Trew (XC Tokyo) continued her reign. Following her Friday victory in Skateboard Park, Trew swept the weekend with a gold in Women’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick. Her clinical execution of a Switch McTwist in her first run proved insurmountable, tying her with legend Lindsey Jacobellis for the most X Games gold medals by a woman, while simultaneously matching Gui Khury’s record for the most medals earned by a teenager.
Street Dominance: New York’s Finest
The Monster Energy Men’s Skateboard Street final saw a masterclass in technical skating. Rising star Ginwoo Onodera (XC New York) stole the show with a run that blended high-difficulty handrail tricks with flawless transitions. His win, fueled by the deafening roar of the Sacramento crowd, propelled the New York squad to a commanding position.
Skateboarding icon Nyjah Huston (XC New York) added to the team’s tally with a silver medal performance, narrowly missing the opportunity to tie Garrett Reynolds for the all-time gold medal record. Rounding out the podium was Juni Kang (Free Agent), who made history as the first Korean skateboarder to ever medal at the X Games.
Moto X and BMX: Defying Physics
The Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick saw an Australian clinic, with Ryan Williams (XC São Paulo) leading a 1-2 finish. Williams, now a 12-time X Games gold medalist, etched his name into the history books by landing two Never-Before-Done (NBD) tricks, including a 540 frontflip flair on the vert wall, which he affectionately dubbed the "Oliver Twist" in honor of a late friend.
In the Moto X Best Trick event, Patrick Evans delivered a performance that shifted the paradigm of the sport. Competing on an electric motorcycle—the only one in the field—Evans executed a Nak-Nak no-hander front flip to secure a score of 95.66. His victory was a watershed moment for electric vehicle technology in high-octane action sports.
The evening concluded with the Stake Men’s BMX Dirt final, where hometown hero Brady Baker (XC Los Angeles) triumphed. Amidst the cheers of his family and supporters, Baker’s gold medal run was perhaps the most emotionally resonant moment of the day.
Supporting Data: A Statistical Snapshot of Excellence
The depth of talent present in Sacramento is evidenced by the statistical milestones achieved on Saturday:
- Gui Khury: 6th consecutive gold in Vert Best Trick; 16th career medal.
- Arisa Trew: 10th career gold; tied for the most gold medals by a woman in X Games history.
- Patrick Evans: Secured gold with a 95.66 score, the highest of the Moto X session.
- Egoitz Bijueska: Became the first Spanish skateboarder to medal in X Games history.
- Logan Martin: With his bronze in BMX Dirt, Martin secured his third medal of the weekend, with one final event remaining.
Official Responses and Reflections
The athletes themselves acknowledged that the environment in Sacramento provided a unique stage for these historic performances.
"I really didn’t think I’d win, even if I stuck my trick," admitted Patrick Evans after his Moto X gold. "Winning Best Trick is the gnarliest thing you can do, so it hasn’t quite sunk in yet."
For others, the atmosphere was a source of tangible motivation. Ginwoo Onodera noted, "I could hear my name coming from the crowd just as I was about to land my trick. It really hyped me up."
The sense of community was equally strong. Brady Baker, fresh off his BMX Dirt win, reflected on the intersection of his professional and personal life: "To get a gold medal here in Sacramento, in front of the home crowd, in front of my whole family—this one means the most out of any gold I’ve ever gotten."
Implications: The Trajectory of X Games
The success of Day Two has profound implications for the future of the X Games. The transition to a league-based format has successfully injected a renewed sense of urgency into the proceedings. By grouping athletes into teams like XC New York and XC Tokyo, the event organizers have created a framework that encourages consistent performance over time rather than isolated peaks of success.
Furthermore, the integration of electric vehicles in the Moto X discipline signals a broader commitment to innovation within the X Games. As the industry faces pressures to modernize and become more sustainable, the performance of athletes like Patrick Evans on electric platforms provides a blueprint for the next decade of freestyle motocross.
As Sacramento prepares for the final day of competition, the narrative is clear: the sport is not just evolving; it is accelerating. The combination of young talent—many of whom are still in their early teens—and seasoned veterans provides a rare balance of fearless innovation and disciplined technicality.
Looking Ahead to Day Three
The stage is now set for the final day of the MoonPay X Games Sacramento 2026. With titles still on the line in Women’s Skateboard Street, Men’s BMX Street, and the remaining Best Trick disciplines, the competition promises to maintain the blistering pace established on Saturday.
Fans can continue to catch the action live across ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN App, or via the global digital reach of the X Games YouTube channel and the Roku Sports Channel. As the inaugural league season reaches its conclusion, one thing is certain: the records broken on Saturday are merely the opening chapters of a new era in action sports. Sacramento has served as the perfect incubator for this evolution, and the world is watching to see who will emerge as the definitive champions of this new, team-centric landscape.
