The X Games are officially stepping into a new era. MoonPay X Games League (XGL) announced the first four teams, known as X Games Clubs, that will compete in the inaugural 2026 XGL Summer Season, naming Los Angeles, New York, São Paulo and Tokyo as the league’s first club markets. The move represents a major evolution in how elite skateboarding and BMX will be showcased, shifting toward a year-round, team-based league model designed to deepen fan engagement and strengthen regional identity within action sports.
The four clubs will be led by newly appointed General Managers Bob Burnquist, Harumi Suzuki, Sharalee “Haze” Hazen and Steve Rodriguez, each responsible for shaping athlete strategy, guiding partnerships and helping establish the competitive and cultural foundation of their teams. XGL leadership believes this structure will redefine how athletes connect with fans by creating teams that supporters can follow beyond single-event moments.
“These four X Games Clubs represent the next evolution of X Games,” said Annie Lokesh, Head of X Games League. “For the first time, athletes won’t just compete in moments; they’ll compete as part of teams that fans can follow and identify with. By anchoring elite athletes to professional sports team identities and ownership groups, we’re creating a pathway to grow them as household names and unlocking deeper, more regional connections to athlete fandom.”
Each X Games Club will feature a roster of 10 elite skateboard and BMX athletes — five men and five women — who will be selected during the first-ever XGL Summer Athlete Draft on March 12, 2026, at Cosm in Los Angeles. Those draft selections will define the competitive DNA of the league’s inaugural season, which officially launches June 26, 2026, in Sacramento, California.
São Paulo’s club will be guided by one of the most influential athletes in X Games history, Bob Burnquist. Known for his longevity, creativity and relentless pursuit of progression, Burnquist has shaped skateboarding through competition, groundbreaking video parts and innovative concepts that blend imagination with elite performance. Beyond the sport, he has championed sustainability, education and community impact through Instituto Skate Cuida. As General Manager, Burnquist aims to build a team rooted in humility, creativity and long-term growth while honoring skateboarding’s raw cultural roots.
Tokyo’s team will be led by Harumi Suzuki, a respected leader in global sports media, communications and event operations with deep ties to action sports culture. Suzuki has served as Head of PR for X Games Japan and held major operational roles at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while also working in marketing and communications with Red Bull and Puma. Her blend of strategic vision and cultural insight positions Tokyo as a key pillar in XGL’s global future.
Los Angeles will be guided by Sharalee “Haze” Hazen, an athlete marketing leader and experiential strategist known for building athlete-first initiatives and culturally relevant platforms within action sports. Hazen has served as an Athlete Marketing Manager and co-created The Uninvited Invitational, helping shape innovative events, partnerships and storytelling frameworks that elevate athlete voices. As GM, she will oversee team strategy while helping establish Los Angeles as a flagship club in the league’s debut season.
New York’s club will be led by Steve Rodriguez, founder of 5Boro Skateboards and a lifelong skateboarder with decades of experience in brand strategy, entrepreneurship and community-driven sport infrastructure. Rodriguez is also a respected skatepark designer whose work has impacted more than 15 parks, including LES Skatepark and Astoria Skatepark, and he played a critical role in saving the Brooklyn Banks. As General Manager, he brings cultural credibility and executive leadership aimed at building a high-performance environment while keeping the team grounded in the city’s skateboarding legacy.
XGL officials say the new club system is designed to fuse strong geographical identity with elite global talent, anchoring competition, culture and community engagement in some of the world’s most influential action sports hubs. Each club will launch dedicated team websites and social channels, giving fans direct access to rosters, behind-the-scenes content, local events and season updates.
With the first athlete draft set for March and the inaugural season beginning in June, the MoonPay X Games League is positioning itself as one of the most ambitious shifts in action sports competition in decades. For skateboarding and BMX, the launch of X Games Clubs signals not just a new format, but a new future — one where athletes compete not only for medals, but for cities, teams and year-round fanbases around the world.