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5 BMXers you have to watch at X Games Minneapolis 2018

By Michelle Bruton

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 13: Jamie Bestwick flips during his 2nd run during the BMX Vert Final at X Games on July 13, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 13: Jamie Bestwick flips during his 2nd run during the BMX Vert Final at X Games on July 13, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 05: Vince Byron participates in BMX Vert Final during X Games Austin at Circuit of The Americas on June 5, 2015 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage)
AUSTIN, TX – JUNE 05: Vince Byron participates in BMX Vert Final during X Games Austin at Circuit of The Americas on June 5, 2015 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage) /

Vince Byron (Vert)

Just as Colton Walker is the young gun nipping at Ryan Nyquist’s heels in BMX dirt, Vince Byron is serving the same role for Jamie Bestwick in vert.

Australia’s Byron came away with gold in the event in the 2017 Minneapolis X Games — cutting short Bestwick’s quest to nab his 15th X Games BMX gold medal by taking the lead from Bestwick on his second run to edge him out 93.00 to 92.66. Bestwick settled for silver.

It was a similar story in 2015, when Byron once again edged Bestwick 92.00 to 91.00 to take home gold and leave Bestwick with silver. That medal allowed Byron to end to Bestwick’s record-setting nine straight wins.

Of course, Byron’s story isn’t solely tied to Bestwick’s, and he continues to prove he’s dominant in his own right — and not just in vert. This year, Byron looks to reach double-digit medals — in addition to the two golds, he also has five silvers and two bronze across vert and big air disciplines.

Byron impresses the judges most with his smooth-as-butter executions; just go back and look at the double tailwhip on his gold medal-winning run last year. If he can keep things looking effortless, he’s sure to earn the edge over his competitors, as the judges love when difficult tricks look easy — and stylish to boot.

Don’t expect it to come easy, though. Byron may be the defending champion, but that just puts a target on his back — in a good-natured, competitive way, of course. “It’s our job to make him as uncomfortable as we can,” Bestwick, who certainly plans on bringing the heat, tells FanSided.

Next: 5 skateboarders you have to watch at X Games Minneapolis 2018

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