By Emilee White
In 1995, X Games had just launched its inaugural season. No one expected it to gain any momentum or popularity, but just last year in 2021 X Games had a triple-digit increase in viewership and hit 105 million video views on social media, which is roughly a 483 percent increase year-over-year. And that was post-Covid 19 Pandemic. What are some other non-traditional sports that could be the X Games?
Pickleball
You have probably heard of pickleball, and if you haven’t, you will definitely have someone mention it to you soon. It is said to be the fastest-growing sport in the United States.
Like another sport that you will read about next, the pandemic is cited as one of the many reasons the sport has grown so much. It was a way to get outside and remain socially distanced.
An advantage pickleball has is that it is suitable for any age because it is easy on the body. Young kids and elderly adults are able to enjoy the sport. Most people who play are over the age of 65.
There is Major League Pickleball as well, a league that high-profile people like LeBron James have invested in. The league is expanding from 12 teams to 16 teams in 2023, so the sport is growing on the professional level as well.
Disc Golf
There were many things that were hurt by the pandemic in 2020, but it is the opposite with disc golf. The sport skyrocketed in popularity during the pandemic, because it was an easy way to get outside with some friends while still being socially distanced.
People seem to really like how inexpensive it is to play as well. A disc golf starter set costs around $30, and to make it even better, 90% of courses are free-to-play. It is really easy to get started. The question is how did people find out about the sport?
The answer to that question really shows that it was a perfect storm for disc golf. During the 2021 World Championships, professional disc golfer James Conrad threw in a miracle shot to force a playoff on hole 18. He would go on to win the tournament. The clip went viral and was number one on SportsCenter top 10.
You can watch the Disc Golf Pro Tour in multiple forms. You can subscribe to the Disc Golf Network and watch the events live, or you can watch post-production coverage on YouTube channels like JomezPro and Gatekeeper Media.
Cornhole
Unless you’re living under a rock, you know cornhole. It is commonly known as the classic game that is played at football tailgates, barbeques, and more. But it goes much further than that.
There is the American Cornhole League, and the sport has even been broadcasted on ESPN and CBS multiple times. Once again, the sport grew a lot during the pandemic because it wasn’t forced to shut down.
What makes the game so popular is that you don’t have to be in top physical shape to be great at it. It’s easy to see how someone could get hooked from playing with their friends and go on to play competitively.
Photo Credit: Michael & Sherry Martin
