The Birth of the X Games: When Extreme Sports Took Over Rhode Island

June 24th, 1995. Providence and Newport, Rhode Island weren’t exactly known for being the epicenter of adrenaline. But for one glorious week, that all changed. The inaugural X Games, then dubbed the "Extreme Games," blasted onto the scene and rewrote the rules for what televised sports could look like. It was loud, chaotic, and completely unhinged—and it was awesome.

Chris Edwards, "The Airman," from Escondido, practices a jump on the half-pipe ramp, part of the in-line skating course at Fort Adams State Park in Newport. PC: Glenn Osmundson/The Providence Journal Files

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Picture it: skateboarders catching air on ramps set up in downtown Providence, BMX bikers defying gravity at the Armory, and water ski jumpers launching into Newport Harbor like human cannonballs. Toss in some street luge on College Hill and you had a weeklong fever dream of flips, crashes, and a whole lot of "Did you see that?!" moments.

This wasn’t just a novelty event. ESPN bet big on the alternative sports movement, and Rhode Island—small but mighty—was the launchpad. So why Rhode Island? For starters, its compact geography made it easy to move between multiple venues, from the urban grit of Providence to the nautical charm of Newport. Plus, local officials were hungry for tourism and media exposure, and the summer calendar was wide open.

The economic and tourist impact was immediate. Hotels were packed. Restaurants were buzzing. The state saw an estimated $5 million economic boost from the influx of athletes, fans, and media. ESPN aired over 20 hours of coverage, and the event drew in more than 198,000 attendees. Viewership numbers hit around 1.4 million, a massive figure for a completely untested event at the time.

What made the first X Games so special wasn’t just the events. It was the vibe. It was raw, it was rebellious, and it felt different. You had punk music blasting between heats, athletes with tattoos and attitude, and a sense that anything could happen—because often, it did.

Over 500 athletes competed across 27 events, and while the names of the early winners might not all be household legends today, their impact is undeniable. They laid the foundation for a global phenomenon that now features snowboarding in the Olympics and kids landing 1080s on the regular.

Fort Adams State Park in Newport. PC: Glenn Osmundson/The Providence Journal Files

National perception was a mixed bag. Traditional sports purists rolled their eyes, but younger audiences and media outlets embraced it. The X Games became synonymous with youth culture, freedom, and pushing limits. It turned heads and launched careers.

So why didn’t the X Games come back to Rhode Island? Blame it on the growth. ESPN quickly realized they needed bigger venues, more infrastructure, and cities with more scalability. As the X Games ballooned into a global brand, places like Los Angeles, Aspen, and Austin became the new homes. Rhode Island was a perfect cradle, but it wasn’t built to sustain the beast the X Games became.

And it all started right here, in the Ocean State.

So next time you see a Red Bull-fueled stunt or a teen pulling off a double backflip on a dirt bike, tip your cap to that hot summer week in '95. Because without it, there’s no X Games. No mainstream extreme. Just a bunch of misfits looking for a ramp.

A bungee jumper with the Indepdendent Man on the State House in the background. PC: Kris Craig / Providence Journal