Progression

Progression [pruh-gresh-uh n] - the act of progressing; forward or onward movement.

10 years ago, who would’ve thought we’d ever see tricks so difficult being thrown like they were a simple ollie. Across all action sports, FMX, BMX, Snowboarding, Skateboarding, Surfing, etc., progression is the name of the game.

The most recognizable competition in action sports is clearly the X-Games. Each year someone in some discipline is making history.

1999 – After 29 attempts, Tony Hawk lands a 900 degree spin.
2002 – Mike Metzger lands the first back flip in Moto-X competition.
2002 – “The Condor” Matt Hoffman lands the first no handed 900 degree spin.
2003 – Brian Deegan lands the first 360 degree spin in Moto-X competition.
2003 – Ryan Sheckler wins gold at age 13. Becomes youngest X-games medalist ever.
2004 – Chuck Carothers pulls the first body varial in freestyle Moto-x.
2005 – Jamie Bestwick pulls the first ever double tailwhip flair in BMX vert.
2006 – Travis Pastrana lands the first double backflip.
2006 – Kevin Robinson lands the double flair.
2006 – Chad Kagy lands the first “flatwhip double tailwhip 540”.
2007 – Simon Tabron. First in X-Games history to pull back to back 900’s in BMX vert.
2008 – Jim Dechamp fails to land the front flip in FMX.
2009 – Anthony Napolitan lands the first ever double front flip on a bicycle.
2009 – Travis Pastrana fails to land the 720 degree spin in FMX.
2010 - ????????????????

Keep in mind…that’s just the summer sports. Even with the failed attempts at huge tricks, it shows just how far each discipline has come. These athletes are pushing so hard to further their sport, and do something that no one has seen or dreamed of before.

Leading the brigade on the snowboarding side of things is Travis Rice. It’s redundant when people say “oh snowboarding has progressed so much”, but that’s exactly what Travis is doing, he takes everything a little step further. He strives for perfection, and pushes the envelope in everything he does.

Taking that into account, Travis created a competition, “Quicksilver National Selection”. The contest in his own words is meant to bring snowboarding “back to its roots”. In this invitation only contest, 17 of the worlds best riders take to the slopes of Jackson Hole, Wyoming for an all mountain assault on fresh untracked pow. The likes of Bjorn Leines, Devun Walsh, Danny Kass, Andreas Wiig, and Rice himself make it the most pure snowboarding event around.

He followed that up, with the first every HD snowboarding movie, "That's It, That's All". TITA takes you on a powder fueled adrenaline rush through New Zealand, BC, Tokyo, Alaska, Jackson Hole, etc. TITA is filmed from angles never before seen, and boasts tricks, never before seen. It is truely the next generation snowboarding film.

Snowboarders have barely scratched the surface of a new era. With Mother Nature providing the canvas, these riders find new ways to paint it with their talent each year.

After all, isn’t that what sports are all about? Progressing yourself to heights you never though you could achieve?