The X Games announced this week that its Real Series video competition, featuring Skateboard Real Street, Snowboard Real Snow and Real Snow Backcountry, will expand to six events in 2013. New to the roster? Ski, surf and women’s disciplines.

The X Games’ Real Series video contest debuted at summer X Games in 2010 as Real Street. In an effort to cater to the über talented skateboarders who preferred shooting video segments over standard competition, the event allowed those individuals to submit a 60-second-long video, the best of which earned certified X Games hardware, in addition to prize winnings that matched the payout of established X Games events.

X Games LA 2012 Real Street: Nyjah Huston (winner)

Building on the success of Real Street, X Games introduced Snowboard Real Snow and Real Snow Backcountry. Athletes and the public responded well, and the foundation was laid for further expansion.

ESPN explains in a press release, “As part of the X Games global expansion in 2013, one Real Series contest will run in conjunction with each of the six X Games events throughout the year. Xgames.com will host videos for each of the invited athletes, who will compete for prize money and medals. Each Real Series athlete chosen to participate will be given the opportunity to team with an editor to partner on the production of the video and present their vision in their own unique style.”

The Real Series expansion cities and disciplines are:

• Real Snow – X Games Aspen: January 24-27
• Real Ski Backcountry – X Games Tignes: March 20-22
• Real Surf – X Games Foz do Iguacu: April 18-21
• Real Women – X Games Barcelona: May 16-19
• Real Street – X Games Munich: June 27-30
• Real Snow Backcountry – X Games Los Angeles: August 1-4

The Real Series videos will debut on xgames.com/therealseries. The videos will be judged by a committee of action sports industry leaders. The videos will then air on national television, and gold medal announcements will be made during the telecasts.

Photo by Daniel Bayer. Courtesy Aspen/Snowmass.

$50,000 will be awarded to the winners, and gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top 3. X Games also includes fans in the fun, allowing the public to vote for their favorite video. The fan favorite videos will be awarded $10,000.

Invited skiers to date include:

Real Ski Backcountry

Voting begins March 5. Winners TBA at X Games Tignes 2013, March 20-22.

• Sean Pettit
• Dane Tudor
• Sammy Carlson
• Parker White
• Pep Fujas
• Tanner Hall
• Wiley Miller
• Chris Benchetler

Real Women

Voting begins May 30. Winners TBA at X Games Barcelona 2013, May 16-19. Invited skiers (only) listed below.

• Ingrid Backstrom
• Michelle Parker

A full listing of Real Series athletes scheduled to participate can be found at xgames.com/therealseries. The athlete list is constantly being updated and subject to change.