NEW ORLEANS (July 25, 2026) — The inaugural MoonPay X Games New Orleans 2026 Championship has reached a fever pitch. With only one day of competition remaining to crown the first-ever MoonPay X Games League (XGL) champions, the standings have undergone a seismic shift. In a breathtaking display of precision and grit, top overall draft pick Chloe Covell secured a gold medal in the final event of the day, vaulting XC New York into the pole position of the XGL championship standings.
The atmosphere inside the Superdome has been electric, as the world’s most elite skateboarders, BMX riders, and Moto X stars converged to redefine the limits of action sports. As the sun sets on a pivotal Saturday, the narrative of the 2026 season is becoming clear: this is a league defined by team camaraderie, individual brilliance, and the rise of a new generation of icons.
The Championship Landscape: A Tight Race to the Finish
As of the conclusion of Saturday’s events, XC New York sits atop the leaderboard with 2,280 points, holding a razor-thin 20-point advantage over the formidable XC Tokyo (2,260). The intensity of the competition is reflected in the standings, where every trick, every landing, and every podium finish carries the weight of a potential championship. XC São Paulo holds steady in third with 2,120 points, while XC Los Angeles rounds out the competitive quartet with 2,050 points heading into Sunday’s grand finale.
The MVP race remains equally compelling. Mizuho Hasegawa of XC Tokyo currently leads the individual standings with 600 points, closely trailed by Gui Khury of XC São Paulo with 550. The championship Sunday will serve as the ultimate proving ground; if Khury secures gold in the Men’s Skateboard Vert, he will finish with 650 points, placing immense pressure on Hasegawa, who must secure at least a bronze medal in the Women’s Skateboard Park to clinch the inaugural league MVP title.
A Chronology of Saturday’s Dominance
Saturday’s slate of eight events was a testament to the technical evolution of action sports. From the gravity-defying rotations in the Vert ramp to the intricate rail work in Street, the day showcased the high-stakes nature of the new team-based format.
Morning and Afternoon Sessions: Young Stars Shine
The day opened with the MoonPay Women’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick, an event that highlighted the immense depth of talent currently entering the sport. With an average age of 16, the field—ranging from 11 to 19—represented the future of the discipline. Eleven-year-old Mia Kretzer (XC Los Angeles), already a veteran of the circuit, made history by landing a “never been done” (NBD) fakie body varial 720 to secure her fourth X Games gold.
This performance was not merely a highlight; it was a strategic masterstroke for XC Los Angeles. As the 39th of 40 draft picks, Kretzer has proven to be the "steal of the draft," contributing 420 points—roughly 26% of her club’s total score. Following Kretzer, Asahi Kaihara (Free Agent) took silver, while Mizuho Hasegawa (XC Tokyo) claimed bronze, keeping her MVP aspirations firmly alive.
BMX and Vert Supremacy
The Stake Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick saw the legendary Ryan Williams (XC São Paulo) add to his storied legacy. Executing “The Oliver Twist”—an alley-oop frontflip 540 flair dedicated to his late friend Oliver Tree—Williams captured his 14th X Games gold medal. With 17 medals in 26 starts, Williams continues to be a benchmark for excellence in the sport.
In the Men’s Skateboard Vert Best Trick, Gui Khury extended his winning streak to eight consecutive gold medals. His signature kickflip body varial 900 remains the gold standard in the discipline. With this victory, Khury has ascended to 13 career X Games gold medals, solidifying his status as the most decorated teenager in X Games history.
Technical Milestones and Record-Breaking Performances
The level of progression witnessed in New Orleans is unprecedented. In the Monster Energy Men’s Skateboard Street, Ginwoo Onodera (XC New York) completed a rare "hat trick," winning his third consecutive gold medal in the event. His final trick—a kickflip front blunt fakie down a non-round rail—was a masterclass in technical difficulty that proved untouchable by the rest of the field.
Similarly, the Moto X Best Trick event saw Jose Canosa produce a score of 97.00. The 23-year-old Spaniard, in only his second X Games appearance, successfully landed a frontflip double seatgrab Indian air, a maneuver that had never been performed in competition before. His trajectory from motocross racing to freestyle dominance is one of the most remarkable stories of the 2026 season.
In the Stake Men’s BMX Dirt, Brady Baker (XC Los Angeles) became the first rider in history to secure four gold medals in the event. His run, which included a complex sequence of a Twister tailwhip and a 360 kickless rewind, underscored his reputation as the premier dirt rider of the modern era.
The Chloe Covell Factor: A New Icon
The defining moment of the day, however, belonged to Chloe Covell. Her victory in the Monster Energy Women’s Skateboard Street was more than just a personal triumph; it was a team-defining moment. By claiming gold, Covell not only pushed XC New York into the lead but also achieved a monumental personal milestone: tying the legendary Leticia Bufoni with 12 career X Games medals, the most by any woman in summer disciplines.
Covell’s composure under pressure is indicative of the "XGL effect." As the top draft pick, the weight of expectations has been significant, yet she has thrived. "I don’t even think about things like that until I’m told," Covell remarked on matching Bufoni’s record. "Leticia means so much to the sport, and I’ve been hanging out with her all weekend. I have the best team ever."
Official Perspectives: The Impact of the League
The introduction of the MoonPay X Games League has fundamentally altered the professional landscape for action sports athletes. The team-based structure has fostered a sense of unity previously unseen in the sport. Tom Schaar (XC Los Angeles), who secured his third gold in Skateboard Park on Saturday, noted the shift in dynamic.
"The team is great," Schaar stated. "I come over to the LA booth and they’re all cheering me on. It gives you a whole other kind of level… it makes you feel like a fan, honestly."
This sentiment is shared by team General Managers and league officials, who view the XGL as a necessary evolution. By fusing geographic identity with global talent, the XGL has provided a platform for deeper fan engagement and has expanded the economic footprint of the sport, allowing athletes to compete for more than just individual prize purses.
Implications for the Future of Action Sports
As we look toward the final day of the championship, the implications of the New Orleans results are far-reaching:
- Strategic Recruitment: The success of "value picks" like Mia Kretzer suggests that the XGL draft strategy will become an increasingly sophisticated science in future seasons.
- Global Growth: The podium success of riders like Jose Canosa (Spain) and Egoitz Bijueska (Spain) illustrates the rapid expansion of skateboarding and BMX talent across Europe, moving beyond traditional hubs.
- The "Club" Model: The shift toward club-based identities is successfully creating a professional hierarchy. Athletes are no longer solitary competitors; they are representatives of a broader organization, which has notably increased the intensity of the competition.
- Legacy vs. Future: With veterans like Rob Adelberg continuing to reach podiums and teenagers like Ginwoo Onodera dominating, the sport is currently in a "golden age" where historical records are being challenged by next-generation innovation.
Conclusion: The Final Showdown
As the MoonPay X Games New Orleans 2026 Championship approaches its conclusion, the tension is palpable. The battle for the inaugural XGL title between XC New York and XC Tokyo is a rivalry that will likely define the sport for years to come. With MVP honors on the line and team glory within reach, Sunday’s final events are expected to be the most watched in X Games history.
Fans can follow the final hours of the championship through the official X Games channels, with live coverage on ABC, ESPN, and global streaming platforms. As these athletes prepare to take their final runs, one thing is certain: the landscape of action sports has been permanently changed by the XGL, and the stars of tomorrow are already here, standing on the podium today.
