Austin welcomed the X Games into town on Thursday evening with an inaugural celebration featuring legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk and friends.
On a half pipe constructed in the middle of Congress Avenue, Hawk joined fellow athletes including skateboarders Neal Hendrix, Chris Gentry and Kevin Staab and BMX rider Kevin Robinson for the official demonstration.
Throngs of fans came out in support of the X Games, taking over the streets around the Texas State Capitol for an evening of extreme sports. Following the demo, the games began with the skateboarding and BMX vert finals. And, in true Austin fashion, Brooklyn-based synth-pop duo Hey Ghost! closed out the opening festivities with a performance.
The X Games now roll on to the Circuit of the Americas, where the sports competition and music festival will remain for the rest of the weekend. For a full roundup of the weekend's events, take a look at our picks here.
46-year-old skateboarder legend Tony Hawk heads down the ramp.
