BOISE, Idaho — For the third straight year, the Road to the X Games competition stops in Boise and spectators have through the weekend to see some of the world's top skateboard and BMX athletes compete at Rhodes Skate Park in Boise.
The finalists of the qualifier were announced Sunday evening and they are going on to the Minneapolis X Games in August.
KTVB has been live at the X Games for both days of competition and the event has been another success. Boise Parks and Recreation says over 10,000 people have attended the qualifier over the past two days.
"We love coming to Boise, the city's been so great to us, they've been great partners to work with, the skaters all love this park and the fans have been coming out in droves," Grace Coryell, ESPN's communication manager said.
New this year, wheelchair BMX athletes were able to put on a clinic during the events.
"it's been pretty awe-inspiring," Christian Otter Bailey, one of the wheelchair BMX athletes said. "I think post injury, more often than not you're just trying to find some semi balance and normality, but quickly it allows you to challenge your preconceptions of what's possible and really push the limits."
One Salt Lake City family happened to be on vacation during the X Games here in Boise. Bryan Akuna brought his sons to the event on Friday knowing it would be fun, but he also saw an opportunity to teach them a lesson.
"I think it's good to bring them out to see some of the younger kids I think the youngest one on the bike was 16 or so," the father of two said. "It shows him that realistically, if he practices enough, he can come out here and he could be cruising around with these guys in a few years."
He says his youngest son is still using training wheels on his bike and hopes that the BMX athletes will push him to learn to ride without them.
One mother in the stands, Amy Breaux, came from Denver with her 15-year-old daughter, who is competing in one of the events.
This mother and daughter have gone to X Games for years. It has become a lifestyle for them. Breaux is not only proud for her daughter, but also for all of her friends, saying she's excited for the future of women's skateboarding.
"With the progression of women's skateboarding, it's such an honor to be invited. Only 18 people are here in the whole world, so to be at this level is really an accomplishment," Breaux said. "They all want to make it till tomorrow, but some of them won't - doesn't mean they still aren't amazing."
For new skateboarders, like Michael Martello, attending the X Games was inspiring.
"It just makes me want to like look at all the improvement that these guys have made in the last year and go toward that and practice more," he said.
Martello says the biggest take away of being at the qualifier was the sportsmanship between everyone.
"The coolest thing I guess is the way all of the professional athletes are rooting for each other even though it's a big competition," Martello said. "It's really cool to see all of them supporting each other and then the community of Boise supporting them."