X Games Austin 2015: Behind the design of this year's courses

Fast lines and big transfers equate to fan excitement. Brian Harper knows this and embraced it fully when designing the X Games Austin street and park courses for BMX and skate. Now, the riders have to learn how to make the courses shine.

Author:
Tim Newcomb
Publish date:
Jun 3, 2015

Early reviews prove promising, though. BMX rider Scotty Cranmer and skater Curren Caples both tell SI.com they like their early looks at the course. And Harper, a 20-year veteran of designing X Games courses, says the feedback he’s heard has him excited.

“The park is a little unique and a little more geared to bike guys with the big transfers,” he tells SI.com. “But so far I haven’t had any bad reviews. Everybody is stoked on it. It is really fast, has a lot of lines and that makes it exciting for the crowd. I think they are two of the best courses we have done.”

Highlight History: Going back in time at the Summer X Games

A beautiful view of the Moto X Freestyle competition during the X Games at Pier 30 and 32 in San Francisco, California.

Achim Kujawski in action during the BMX vert competition at the 2001 X Games at First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Roman Hackl busts out some moves during the Men's Skateboard Park Final's at the 2001 Summer X Games at the First Union Complex in Philadelphia, PA on 20 August 2001.

Chad Bartie takes a breather before the start of the Men's Skateboard Park final at the 2001 Summer X Games at Philadelphia's First Union Complex 20 April 2001.

Roman Hackl warms up before the start of the Men's Skateboard Park Final's during the 2001 Summer X Games at the First Union Complex in Philadelphia, PA, 20 August 2001.

Bob Burnquist relaxes during the filming of a scene for a commercial for X Games 9 at the Playboy Mansion on May 6, 2003 in Holmby Hills, California.

Paul Rodriguez, Eric Koston and Rodil de Araujo, Jr. pose for photographers during the awards ceremony at the X Games 9 Skateboard Street contest held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Stephen Murray catches air at the X Games 9 Bike Stunt Dirt contest held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Tony Hawk attempts to land his jump in the Skateboard Big Air competition during the X Games 11 on August 5, 2004 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Danny Way drops into the ramp during the Skateboard Big Air competition during X Games 11 on August 6, 2004 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Ryan Guettler competes during the Bike Stunt Park competition at X Games 11 on August 7, 2004 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Travis Pastrana competes for gold in the Moto X Speed and Style Final during X Games 16 at Staples Center on August 1, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Travis Pastrana competes during the Rally Car event at X Games 16 on July 31, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Ryan Sheckler competes at the Skate Street event during X Games 16 on July 31, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Bucky Lasek competes in the Skateboard Park Final during X Games 16 at the Event Deck LA Live on August 1, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Dave Mirra races during the Speed and Style event at X Games 16 on July 31, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Moto Best Trick participant Travis Pastrana at X Games 11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on August 4, 2005.

Travis Pastrana during the Moto X Best Trick contest at X Games 11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on August 4, 2005.

Silver Medalist Shaun White at the ESPN X Games 11 during the Men's Skateboard Vert Finals on Friday, August 5, 2005.

Kenny Bartram perfroms a trick during the Moto X Freestyle final at X Games Eleven on August 6, 2005 at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, California.

Andy Macdonald performs a trick in the Skateboard Big Air competition during X Games 11 on August 7, 2005 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Men's Skateboard Vert silver medalist Bob Burnquist in action during X Games 12.

A look at the view of the Snow Ramp during the ESPN X Games on June 27, 1998 in San Diego, California.

Gold medalist Travis Pastrana during Freestyle Moto X finals at X Games 12 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on August 6, 2006.

Ryan Sheckler competes in the qualifying round in Skateboard Street at X Games 14.

Omar Hassan practices in the Skateboard Superpark during X Games 14 at Home Depot Center on July 31, 2008 in Carson, California.

A competitor participates in the BMX Freestyle Street final during X Games 14 on July 31, 2008 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Bob Burnquist reacts after a successful run during the Skateboard Big Air Final at the 14th Summer X Games on July 31, 2008 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Simon Tabron practices in the BMX Freestyle Vert during X Games 14 at Home Depot Center on August 1, 2008 in Carson, California.

Lyn-z Adams Hawkins competes in the Women's Skateboard Vert final during X Games 15 at the Home Depot Center on July 30, 2009 in Carson, California.

Garrett Reynolds competes in the BMX Freestyle Street event during X Games 15 at the Home Depot Center on August 1, 2009 in Carson, California.

Gaby Ponce competes in the Women's Skateboard Vert final during X Games 15 at the Home Depot Center on July 30, 2009 in Carson, California.

Bob Burnquist competes in Skateboard Big Air at the Staples Center on July 30, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

Robbie Maddison gets some serious air during the Moto X Freestyle at X Games 15 at Home Depot Center on July 31, 2009 in Carson, California.

Travis Pastrana takes part in the Moto X Best Trick as part of Summer X Games 15 at Staples Center on July 31, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

Paul Rodriguez looks to land a trick in the Men's Skateboard Street finals at Summer X Games 15 at Home Depot Center on August 1, 2009 in Carson, California.

89672859 (1).jpg — Christian Pondella/Getty Images

Jamie Bestwick competes in BMX Vert at Summer X Games 15 at Home Depot Center on August 1, 2009 in Carson, California.

Rob Lorifice competes in the Men's Skateboard Vert event during X Games 15 at the Home Depot Center on August 1, 2009 in Carson, California.

Nyjah Houston competes in the Men's Skateboard Street finals at Summer X Games 15 at Home Depot Center on August 1, 2009 in Carson, California.

Mat Rebeaud busts out some crazy moves in the FMX Freestyle finals during X Games 16 on July 29, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Ashley Fiolek wins gold in Women's Moto X during X Games 16 on July 29, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Competitors start in the Moto X Super X event during X Games 16 at the LA Coliseum on July 29, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Jake Brown competes to a gold medal in the Skateboard Big Air final during X Games 16 at the LA Coliseum on July 29, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Levi Sherwood does a stunt during the Moto X Freestyle final at the LA Coliseum during X Games 16 on July 29, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Daniel Dhers surprises fans as he competes for a gold medal in the BMX Freestyle Park final during X Games 16 at the Event Deck LA Live on July 31, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

The 2014 X Games in Austin, Texas have come to a close. With countless high-flying tricks and death-defying jumps, this year's games were definitely one for the ages. In this gallery, we go behind-the-scenes at X Games Austin with the help of thousands of fans, countless athletes and Instagram.

Not only does Harper, who works for California Ramp Works, design the courses, but he also manages the events. He knows a few things about building courses the world over.

For the park course, Harper tries to build something akin to a public skate park. “We are trying to take some of the best elements of some of the best parks out there and put them into the X Games,” he says. “It is a little more on steroids, if you will, than normal public parks. These (athletes) are the best of the best.”

With the riders—both skaters and BMX riders—having grown up on public skate parks, Harper always searches for a way to stay up with the trends.

“In park and street it is a battle to be creative, to do something different and do something with a little flavor of the town you are in, but while keeping up with the trends the athletes are doing,” he says. “It is a battle.”

This year’s street course, built just for the skaters since there is no BMX street event in Austin this year, boasts an overhanging roof that allows athletes to jump off the roof into a couple of different banks. Whether or not athletes choose to use it as often as other elements remains to be seen, though, Harper says.

For the park course, Harper knows he did get a bit geared toward the bikers. There, he built in a spine ramp he has sitting on the deck. Crafted in such a way to allow transitions in and out of the bowl, athletes can choose a variety of lines. “There are a lot of elements on the higher deck,” he says.

This year’s tweaking did take a more substantial tone, even if creating something completely brand new has become nearly impossible. “We have been building so many different courses, there is always at least something similar,” Harper says. “I don’t think there is something you could put in that is totally unique.” That said, tweaking obstacles and creating variables can give a completely new style of ride, allowing Harper to remodel pieces and parts each year for a new look.

MORE EDGE: Riding and training with BMX's Nigel Sylvester

Having athlete input does help define each new course and small change. Harper has relationships with all the athletes—some better than others, of course—something he calls important in order to gain that feedback and the openness for them to tell him when something doesn’t work or if they want to see changes for the next year.

This year, though, the design builds speed and varying lines—excitement too.

Tim Newcomb covers stadiums, design and gear for Sports Illustrated. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.

X Games Austin 2015: Behind the design of this year's courses

Highlight History: Going back in time at the Summer X Games

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