Random Cool: X Games 16 Has Major Latino Flava

By Michael Lopez

Latinos and extreme sports go together like grinding and rails! X Games 16 officially kicked off on Thursday (July 29) in Los Angeles, and one look at the roster reveals a heavy Hispanic presence. And not just with the guys, even lady boarders are hitting the circuit for what’s shaping up to be a very exciting event!

Broken apart into the categories of Skateboarding, BMX, Moto X, and Rally, there’s set to be over a hundred competitors from all over the world. In total, we’ve got 16 different events and Day 1’s set to kick it off with a bang! Highlights include BMX Freestyling, the Skateboard Street elimination, the first round of Moto X Super X, and more.

The list of talent is truly overwhelming, but here are a few of our personal faves:

Paul Rodriguez Jr.
No stranger to Blogamole, we’re huge fans of Paul. He’s got creativity, passion, and his Dad is hilarious! But most importantly, he’s an awesome skateboarder and won last year’s Men’s Skateboard Street competition. There’s been no “official” confirmation of his participation this year, but if he’s there we’re rooting for him!

Diogo Canina
Ok, we know we technically shouldn’t root for another country, but Brazil’s Diogo Canina is off the chain! He’s one of the best BMX ridersin the world and always puts on a dazzling show. Never one to “play it safe,” expect some major showmanship when he hits the track!

Danny Torres
Spain is on fire right now with that World Cup win. And just to prove they’ve got athletes for every sport, Danny Torres has arrived to nab motocross bragging rights. Believe us when we say that Danny’s no joke! He’s taken victory cups in Mexico, Poland, and Madrid and is a master of the backflip!

Vanessa Torres
You’ve gotta love the amount of Latinas competing this year! Leticia Bufoni, Nora Vasconcellos, the list goes on and on. Of course we’re rooting for them all, but one in particular that we love is Vanessa Torres. She’s a true skateboarding vet (having competed since 2003) and most recently won the Boston Dew Tour!

Who are your favorite competitors at this year’s X Games? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Extreme Sports, Paul Rodriguez Jr., random cool, Vanessa Torres, X-Games, X-Games 2010