Next X: Disney TV taps into extreme sports

Disney and ESPN have come together to bring you “NEXT X”, a reality series for kids where five  extreme athletes guide five up and comers by teaching them how to hone their technical skills and confidence to possibly become the next action sports superstar.  Chris Cole, Scotty Cranmer, Billy Marks, Lincoln Ueda, and Van Homan are the guys who will mentor five lucky individuals.

Why no girls? Not really sure since there are plenty of action sports athletes who are female.  Just look at some of the girls who’ve rocked ESPN’s X Games like Elissa Steamer, Cara-Beth Burnside, Lauren Perkins, Mimi Knoop or Lyn-Z Adams.   And there are plenty of young girls who are kicking butt and would benefit from some mentoring from these pros.

The project was filmed at the sprawling action sports oasis of Camp Woodward in the Mojave Desert in Tehachapi, California and will be broadcast over the next two months, culminating in a half-hour television special, with one amateur participant chosen for a showcase in the next X-Games.

Hopefully, Disney and ESPN will feature some action sports girls in the near future. In the meantime, check out the press release the show.

“Next X,” a reality series for kids developed by Disney XD in collaboration with ESPN, features five of the world’s top professional BMX and skateboarding athletes as they mentor young amateurs in their chosen sport, teaching them how to hone their technical skills, build their confidence and inspire them to become better athletes. The story is told through eight short-form episodes, culminating with a half-hour television special that will feature highlights from X Games 15.

The series will star professional action sports athletes Chris Cole (skateboard), Scotty Cranmer (BMX), Billy Marks (skateboard), Lincoln Ueda (skateboard) and Van Homan (BMX).  The five up-and-coming action sports athletes are 12-year-old Ian Bradley, a BMX amateur from New Hampshire; 11-year-old Matty Cranmer, a BMX amateur from New Jersey; 12-year-old Mitchie Brusco, an amateur skateboarder from Washington; 9-year-old Tom Schaar, an advanced skateboarder from California and 11-year-old Micah Wu, an amateur skateboarder from Kentucky.

In conjunction with the premiere of “Next X,” Disney XD.com will debut “X-clusives,” special webisodes that delve further into the young athletes’ experiences while training with their mentors.  The webisodes include new behind-the-scenes footage, in-depth athlete interviews, a high jump competition, extended one-on-one training sessions, skateboard and BMX safety tips and outtakes of all the action.  Disney XD.com users are also invited to play five exclusive action sports-themed online games developed by ESPN and Disney.com starting Monday, June 29.  Gamers can test their motocross, rally car, BMX and skateboarding skills.

“X Games on Disney XD,”  a series of four individual 60 second programs, features X Games athletes, event highlights and some of the best action-packed moments from the X Games.

Hosted by ESPN and E! Entertainment anchor Sal Masekela, all four episodes will focus on specific aspects of the X Games. Episode 1 will air July 13 and will feature historical look backs at the X Games debuts of current legends Shaun White, Travis Pastrana and Ryan Sheckler. Episode 2 will air July 20, prior to X Games 15, and will highlight what to watch for at this year’s X Games. Episodes 3 & 4 will air the two weeks after X Games 15, August 5 and August 10, and both episodes will be highlight oriented from the event.