Alachua County resident Tom Parsons takes silver at X-Games 2023

Press release from Tom Parsons

VENTURA, Ca. – Alachua County resident Tom Parsons won Silver in the Best Whip event at X-Games 2023 held in Ventura, CA. This was his ninth year of competition, and he has earned seven medals – three Gold, three Silver, and one Bronze. Tyler Bereman of California took Gold, and Bronze went to Julien Vanstippen from Belgium. Tom has also competed in the X-games Step Up and Quarter Pipe High Air events. 

Being the oldest competitor in the moto events by 10 years or more has its challenges, but Tom says he intends to compete as long as they keep inviting him. He believes he has more Gold Medal performances left. 

This was the first X-Games open to the public since the COVID scare started. The games were canceled in 2020, and in the following two years, they were held at a private facility in California without spectators. The fans were certainly happy about the return of the competition and turned out in droves, selling out all three days/nights of competition with millions watching worldwide. 

Tom is a well-known international competitor who is also highly regarded for his skill and daring in the world of Free Ride. He has competed in the Red Bull Imagination Free Ride competitions and appeared in many dirt bike videos. He has also produced videos and many Free Ride clips that are available on the internet and have been viewed by tens of thousands. 

A video of the Best Whip event can be viewed here: