New Installment of “Winter Next X” Premieres January 31 on Disney XD
via Disney XD press release:
NEW INSTALLMENT OF “WINTER NEXT X,” FEATURING PROFESSIONAL WINTER X GAMES ATHLETES SARAH BURKE AND DANNY KASS MENTORING YOUNG AMATEUR ATHLETES, PREMIERES MON., JANUARY 31 ON DISNEY XD
Four talented young athletes get the chance to learn from the pros in a new installment of “Winter Next X,” part of the “Next X” series of action sports reality shows developed by Disney XD in association with ESPN. Professional Winter X Games athletes Sarah Burke and Danny Kass mentor the young competitors in their chosen sport to see which amateur will be named Winter Next X and have the opportunity to showcase his or her skills at Winter X Games 15. “Winter Next X” will premiere MONDAY, JANUARY 31 (4:00 p.m. ET/PT) on Disney XD with new episodes airing daily throughout the week, culminating in a 15-minute special chronicling the young athletes’ quest for the title of “Winter Next X” which airs Monday, February 7 (9:00 p.m., ET/PT). The episodes will air shortly thereafter on DisneyXD.com.
Under the tutelage of pro skier Sarah Burke, a five-time Winter X Games medalist and Danny Kass, a two-time Winter Olympic silver medalist and multiple-award winning Winter X Games snowboarder, this year’s new roster of aspiring winter sports athletes will learn how to perform new tricks and catch some major air during the series’ newest installment. Shot entirely on location in Aspen, Colorado, “Winter Next X” will highlight the following accomplished young amateurs:
- 11-year-old Birk Irving, a skier from Winter Park, Colorado who placed first in Halfpipe and second in Slopestyle at the 2010 USASA National Championship and has placed first in Rocky Mountain King of the Grommets for the past two years in a row.
- 13-year-old Nik Baden, a snowboarder from Steamboat Springs, Colorado who was the USASA Menehune Boys Overall National Champion at the 2010 USASA Nationals, where he also took home the gold medal in Slopestyle. In 2010, he placed third at the US Open Junior Division in Halfpipe.
- 12-year-old Sasha Johnstone, a skier from Jackson Hole, Wyoming who placed first in Halfpipe at the 2010 Jackson Hole USASA competition and fourth in Slopestyle at the 2010 USASA National Championship at Copper Mountain.
- 10-year-old Redmond Gerard, a snowboarder from Frisco, Colorado who placed first in the 2010 Red Bull Buttercup rail event in Winter Park, Colorado.
“Winter Next X” is directed by Kemp Curley and produced by Curley and Bruno Musso of Transition Productions (ESPN X Games/Winter X Games, “First Descent,” and “Ultimate Parkour Challenge”). The director of photography is Christian Hoagland.
About Disney XD:
Disney XD is a basic cable channel and multi-platform brand showcasing a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming for Kids age 6-14, hyper-targeting boys and their quest for discovery, accomplishment, sports, adventure and humor. Disney XD branded content spans television, online, mobile and VOD platforms. The programming includes series, movies and short-form, as well as sports-themed programming developed with ESPN. In the U.S., Disney XD is seen on a 24-hour, advertiser supported network that reaches over 77 million households via its basic cable and satellite affiliates. Disney XD channels are in the UK, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Greece, Turkey, Latin America, Japan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and The Netherlands.
About ESPN’s X Games Franchise:
ESPN held its first X Games in 1995. ESPN’s Global X Events and Development group is responsible for creating the company’s action sports programming currently airing on ESPN, ESPN 2 and across its various international networks. In addition to the two U.S. based X branded events, X Games and Winter X Games, ESPN has held X Games competitions and demonstration events around the world, including Dubai, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, Malaysia, China and Europe. The global X franchise has also expanded its reach to ESPN.com/Action, the definitive site for action sports fans, and to consumer products such as X Games bikes, protective gear, skateboards and DVD’s.