One sure thing about the X Games: the talent just keeps coming. Chloe Kim, 15, won her second consecutive X Games gold medal to close out the 2016 event with an exclamation point. She’s the youngest two-time gold medalist and was the youngest gold medalist ever until Kelly Sildaru, 13, won gold this year in slopestyle skiing.
In what was a weekend of extremes, especially the weather—that went from spring-like sunshine to winds and heavy snow showers—the defending gold medalist laid down a heavy second run, opening with a beautiful frontside 1080 with an accentuated tail grab, showing mature style well beyond her 15 years.
Another young, talented rider, Arielle Gold finished with silver. The 19-year-old now has two X Games silvers.
China’s Cai Xuetong finally broke down the podium door for a bronze, one she’d been knocking on since 2012 when she finished sixth. The 22-year-old ended fifth last year.
