Robbie: X Games haters need to take a breath, enjoy the competition

I’m tired of listening to locals complain about the X Games.

It almost seems that hating on the X Games is the cool or popular thing to do if you live in or are from Aspen.

To be fair, I understand, and in some cases even agree, with my fellow Aspenites’ qualms with the four-day event and the masses who come with it.

Some of the repeated criticisms I’ve heard over the years include: “Town is too crowded and busy, the event is not an economic driver for the city, the people are trashy, theft and bar fights increase.”

While I cannot attest to the validity of these claims beyond my own anecdotal observation, I think these people may be missing the point.

I think the exposure for Aspen-Snowmass as a ski resort is unparalleled, but this isn’t my point, either.

The point, in my mind, is that the best, brightest athletes on the planet are traveling to our little ski town to compete on an international stage.

Not to mention, whether you love or hate the musical lineup, the artists are often some of the biggest names in their industry, as well.

Are we Aspenites so jaded that we cannot look past these alleged inconveniences for one weekend to welcome the world’s most talented freestyle skiers, snowboarders and rappers (and yes, the Front Rangers, too)?

I can already hear the counter argument that I “haven’t experienced enough X Games to get it.”

The 2018 event will mark my fifth X Games as an Aspen resident.

Who knows, perhaps I will feel differently about the X Games some day (pending, of course, that the city of Aspen and ESPN renew their contract after next year).

I suppose then I can only hope that when Olympians visit our mountain paradise in the future, I’m excited to watch them throw down and not annoyed because our free public buses are a little rowdier than usual.