The 2018 X Games have arrived in Aspen.
Over the next four days, some of the best freestyle skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers and snow bikers will take over Buttermilk Mountain for the action sports competition.
The X Games began back in the summer of 1995 in Newport, Rhode Island. A winter competition was added two years later in 1997.
Aspen has hosted the event every year since 2002, expect for 2013: that year, it was held in Tignes, Frances.
Events include everything from Superpipe to Slopestyle to Snowmobile Freestyle to Big Air to Snow BikeCross.
You can see a full schedule of events here: http://bit.ly/2F7BFBv.
Outside of competition, the X Games has long been known for its concerts, bringing in big musical acts each night of competition.
This year, performances include Martin Garrix, Method Man and Redman, LCD Soundsystem and Marshmello.
With the Winter Olympics right around the corner, this year's X Games will especially exciting to watch as many of the athletes competing will also be traveling to PyeongChang in a couple weeks for the 2018 Games.
A few athletes to watch
Shaun White
Snowboarding star Shaun White is back at the X Games this year. He's coming off a perfect 100 run at the Snowmass Grand Prix that qualified him for his fourth Olympic Games. White has won two Olympic Golds and a massive 13 winter X Games golds, so is the favorite in the Snowboard Superpipe Sunday night.
Chloe Kim
Another Olympic superstar, Kim is the one to beat in the women's snowboarding Superpipe - and she's only 17. She'll be competing Saturday night.
Aaron Blunck
Blunck is a Colorado native and has officially qualified to compete with Team USA at the 2018 Olympic Games. He's a freestyle skier who will be competing in the Superpipe Thursday night.
Gus Kenworthy
Another Colorado freestyle skier, Kenworthy competes in both the Superpipe and Slopestyle. He'll be in PyeongChang this year, and was internet famous after the Sochi Games when stayed late to adopt stray puppies. Watch for him Thursday night and Sunday afternoon.
Julia Marino
One of the top female Snowboarders right now, Julia Marino earned four X Games medals in 2017 and is poised to continue this year. She's from Connecticut but trains at Breckenridge. She will be in Friday morning's Slopestyle competition as well as Saturday's noon Big Air contest.
Jake Pates
A Superpipe snowboarder from Eagle, Pates is hoping to earn his first X Games medal this weekend. He's also a member of the U.S. Olympic team heading to PyeongChang. He'll compete Sunday night.
Torin Yater-Wallace
Yater-Wallace is a five-time X Games medalist, two of which are Gold. He's also a native of the host city of Aspen. He'll be skiing in the SuperPipe on Thursday night.
Arielle Gold
Gold, who is from Steamboat Springs, is currently balancing studying to be a veterinarian at the University of Colorado with training. Although has won four X Games medals, she has yet to earn a gold - something she's hoping to accomplish during her snowboarding SuperPipe contest Saturday night.
Red Gerard
Red Gerard has already made a name for himself in the snowboarding world at only 17-years-old. He'll be heading to his first Olympic Games in February and is hoping to earn his first X Games medal in Slopestyle on Saturday afternoon.
You can hear from Gerard below.
You can watch the X Games through the ESPN's online streaming services or on ESPN. We will also be in Aspen on Friday and Saturday to bring you highlights from the events.
