X Marks the Spot: Brad Saunders Qualifies for X Games

Photo: Brad Saunders (left), after qualifying in Sydney, receiving his Golden Ticket into the X Games 2018

FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport Skateboarder and VIS Scholarship holder, Brad Saunders has sensationally qualified for the X Games in Sydney. The X Games commences on Friday and concludes on Sunday, this weekend.

The X Games is the world’s biggest and best action sports competition. For the first time, the world’s number 1 action sports event, X Games is being held in Australia. The event will see the world’s biggest names compete for X Games Gold in Skateboarding, BMX and Moto X at Spotless Stadium, Sydney.

Saunders, 16, who currently attends Beaufort Secondary College, qualified for the X Games after an exhaustive series of selection trials in Sydney yesterday. Saunders won through to the X Games after securing a Golden Ticket into the event, defeating over 40 skateboarders in the process.

Saunders will now compete in the Open Men’s Skateboard Street category against athletes from the United States, Brazil, Canada, Japan, France and Australia. Saunders is one of only five Australian skaters to qualify for the world-class event.

This week’s result continues what has already been a highly successful year for Saunders, who is currently in receipt of a Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) scholarship.

Corey Saitta, Executive Officer of the WestVic Academy of Sport said, “Brad is a trailblazer for his sport and in this part of the world. He is paving the way for future athletes to want to participate in a fledgling sport like Skateboarding. The Skateboarding community and economy in North and South America, Asia and Europe is considerable in its size and scale. It would surprise many in Australia as to the popularity and demand for Skateboarding and the opportunities available to athletes to compete on a world tour. Brad’s continued success augers well with his goal being to represent Australia at the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan in 2020”.

The X Games in Sydney will be broadcast live on Channel 7/Prime channels this weekend.