MoonPay X Games League (XGL) announced the first four teams, known as X Games Clubs, set to compete in the inaugural 2026 XGL Summer Season. Representing some of the world’s most influential creative and action sports hubs– Los Angeles, New York, São Paulo and Tokyo –the new X Games Clubs mark a bold evolution in the future of BMX and skateboarding competition.
Designed to fuse strong geographical identity with elite global talent, the X Games Clubs will serve as the foundation of XGL’s year-round, team-based league model. Each club will anchor competition, culture, and community engagement as XGL reimagines how action sports are experienced by athletes and fans alike.
“These four X Games Clubs represent the next evolution of X Games,” said Annie Lokesh, Head of X Games League. “The inaugural X Games League teams set the foundation for XGL’s mission — to inspire the next generation of professional athletes and fans around the world. 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.”
2026 XGL Summer X Games Clubs & General Managers
XGL has also announced the appointment of four GMs who will lead the inaugural summer teams: Bob Burnquist, Harumi Suzuki, Sharalee “Haze” Hazen, and Steve Rodriquez. Each GM will oversee athlete and team strategy, guide partnership development, and collaborate closely with league leadership across operations, content, and marketing to establish a strong and competitive foundation.
Each X Games Club will feature a roster of 10 elite skateboard and BMX athletes — five men and five women — selected during the first-ever XGL Athlete Draft on March 12, 2026, at Cosm in Los Angeles. With global action sports community watching, these draft selections will define the competitive DNA of the league’s inaugural summer season, launching on June 26, 2026, in Sacramento, CA.
X Games Club São Paulo, General Manager Bob Burnquist
Bob Burnquist is one of the most influential figures in X Games history, known for his longevity, creativity, and relentless pursuit of progression. A Brazilian American who turned pro as a teenager, he has shaped skateboarding through elite competition, groundbreaking video parts, and innovative concepts that blend performance, imagination, and personal growth. Beyond skating, Burnquist embraces a lifestyle of exploration—drawing inspiration from aviation and skydiving—while leading Instituto Skate Cuida and advocating for sustainability, education, and positive social impact within skateboarding communities. As GM of XC São Paulo, Burnquist brings a lived understanding of competition, crew culture, and shared progression. His focus is on building a team grounded in humility, creativity, and mutual support, honoring the raw roots of skateboarding while creating space for performance, evolution, and long-term growth.
X Games Club Tokyo, General Manager Harumi Suzuki
Harumi Suzuki is a leader in global sports media, communications, and event operations, with deep roots in action sports culture. Her career spans international action sports and the world’s largest sporting events, including serving as Head of PR for the X Games Japan, leading Main Press Centre operations for the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and working in marketing and communications at both Red Bull and Puma. Based in Japan, she is known for shaping high-impact media strategies and working closely with athletes to amplify their voices and connect sport with audiences worldwide. As GM of XC Tokyo, Suzuki brings a rare blend of strategic vision, cultural insight, and operational expertise to drive the team’s growth in a new era of competition.
X Games Club Los Angeles, General Manager Sharalee “Haze” Hazen
Sharalee “Haze” Hazen is an accomplished athlete marketing leader and experiential strategist with a proven track record of building athlete-first initiatives and culturally relevant sports platforms. Most recently, she has served as an Athlete Marketing Manager and as the co-creator of The Uninvited Invitational, where she has helped shape innovative events, strategic partnerships, and storytelling frameworks that elevate athlete voices and deepen fan connection within action sports. As GM of XC Los Angeles, Haze will bring a rare combination of athlete advocacy, commercial strategy, and operational leadership to the league’s inaugural launch. In this role, she will oversee team and athlete strategy, guide partnership development, and collaborate closely with league leadership across operations, content, and marketing to establish a strong competitive and cultural foundation.
X Games Club New York, General Manager Steve Rodriguez
Steve Rodriguez is a seasoned creative and business leader, entrepreneur, and lifelong skateboarder with deep experience across brand strategy and organizational culture. He founded 5Boro Skateboards, one of New York City’s most influential skate brands, and a respected skatepark designer whose work has impacted 15 parks, including LES Skatepark, Maloof Skatepark, and Astoria Skatepark. Most recently, Rodriguez was a critical part of the team that saved the Brooklyn Banks. A 33-year New York resident, Rodriguez has been a longtime advocate for free, public skate spaces and community-driven sport infrastructure in New York City. As GM of XC New York, he brings this combined cultural credibility and executive leadership to the X Games League’s evolution—focused on building a high-performance team environment, aligning creative vision with commercial objectives, and activating athletes and communities to position XC New York as a globally resonant, culturally relevant sports property.
Each X Games Club will feature dedicated team websites and social channels, providing fans with direct access to athlete rosters, behind-the-scenes content, local events, and season updates.
X Games Club Websites & Social Handles
X Games Club São Paulo, xgames.com/xgl/xcsaopaulo, @xgames_saopaulo
X Games Club Tokyo, xgames.com/xgl/xctokyo, @xgames_tokyo
X Games Club Los Angeles, xgames.com/xgl/xclosangeles, @xgames_losangeles
X Games Club New York, xgames.com/xgl/xcnewyork, @xgames_newyork
For more information on XGL, the X Games Clubs, the athlete draft, and the 2026 summer season schedule, click here.
ABOUT X GAMES LEAGUE (XGL)
Launching this year, the X Games League (XGL) brings an exciting new extension to the iconic X Games brand as the world’s first year-round, team-based, co-ed league in action sports. The League features eight Clubs (four winter X Games Clubs and four summer X Games Clubs) that fuse geographical identity with global athletic talent as they compete. These Clubs will be comprised of the top athletes in the world competing for what will become the most coveted trophy in action sports.
For the first time in X Games history, athletes compete in a structured season and team-based format, allowing for season-long storylines and deeper athlete-fan engagement across broadcast, streaming, live events, and digital platforms. This represents a fundamental shift in the world of action sports as XGL aims to build stronger global presence and regional connections for athletes, teams, fans, and sponsors. The formation of XGL greatly expands compensation opportunities for athletes far beyond existing prize purses, with additional earning potential as part of the league’s team model. To learn more, visit xgames.com/xgl/ or follow X Games on Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
