X Games Minneapolis got underway Thursday evening with more than 14,000 spectators kicking summer into high gear as the top action sports athletes in the world took their talents to the vert ramp for the Pacifico Skateboard and BMX Vert Finals.

Now in its second year in Minnesota, X Games Minneapolis looks to continue the proud tradition of not only progressing the possibilities of today’s most popular action sports, but also providing an accessible platform for fan participation and inclusion. With all competitions held at the state of the art U.S. Bank Stadium, the four day event will welcome spectators to watch BMX, skateboard and Moto X athletes compete for gold. Fans will also be treated to a host of attractions at X Fest, which includes interactive games, giveaways and athlete autograph signings, in addition to the GEICO Music Stage at The Armory with some of today’s hottest musical acts like Kaskade, Brother Ali, Ice Cube and Zedd (in order of appearance).

The first of the evening’s two events saw last years silver medalist Jimmy Wilkins take home gold in the Pacifico Skateboard Vert Final. Putting up a first run score of 89.00 the 24-year-old Wilkins held on to his lead throughout the competition with a run that was as much about his smooth style as it was about trick technicality. In a run that saw him and an alley-oop tailgrab 540, a kickflip melon, and an inventive stalefish-to-disaster, Wilkins held off last year’s gold medalist Moto Shibata, whose unique style earned him a score of 87.33, enough for silver. Taking his third bronze in the event was California’s Mitchie Brusco. Wilkins, who is competing in his sixth X Games also won gold in Skateboard Vert at X Games Austin 2014.

Results

1. Jimmy Wilkins, 89.00 (USA)

2. Moto Shibata, 87.33 (JPN)

3. Mitchie Brusco, 87.00 (USA)

4. Clay Kreiner, 85.33 (USA)

5. Sandro Dias, 83.33 (BRA)

6. Andy Macdonald, 78.00 (USA)

7. Paul-Luc Ronchetti, 77.00 (GBR)

8. Marcelo Bastos, 76.33 (BRA)

9. Jono Schwan, 76.00 (USA)

10. Bucky Lasek, 44.33 (USA)

Gold - Jimmy Wilkins

Silver - Moto Shibata

Bronze - Mitchie Brusco