2008 Winter X Games 12

The 2008 Winter X Games marked the twelfth year for this event, nine of which were held in Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado, the last seven supported by ATK Versacom. It is a worldwide event featuring winter action sports like Skiing, Snowboard, and Snowmobile. All competitions take place at Buttermilk Mountain and draw athletes from around the globe, showcasing their skills with the hopes of winning medals and prize money. ESPN and ABC air the events live, all fifteen hours, including nighttime events on the mountain. Due to the global nature of Winter X Games, they are broadcast internationally to more than 121 countries and territories around the world. Needless to say, this is a large scale, high profile, live televised event; all good reasons to entrust the communications to the best in the business, ATK Versacom.

Any show of this magnitude comes with challenges, but Winter X Games 2008 came with its own unique set. Besides the rugged terrain, freezing temperatures and trying to walk in snow without falling down, it was vital to keep the gear up and running non-stop. That meant all venues were operating at 100% for 15 days, keeping all Riedel frames on line. If the system were to shut down, moisture would build, and well, game over. The SnoCross-Snowmobile event presented yet another challenge…distance. Routing the audio feed from the production trucks to the top of the venue was quite a feat.

ATK Versacom provided communications for the competitions and the Awards Stage for a total of four venues. One 128 X 128 Riedel Matrix System and three 32 X 32 Riedel Matrix Systems provided the foundation for outstanding communication. Each venue required four wireless beltpacks, two to ENG Cameras and two to Stage Managers. Hard line packs were provided for the Mixer, Interviewer and Talent at all four locations. The Director at every venue had a Riedel DCP 1016 with multiple stations. A button allowed them to talk to their host via IFB, as well as to their stage manager, crew members and other venues on Buttermilk Mountain. The Director’s communication also extended to the half dozen production trucks on the truck farm. Remarkably, there was venue wide communication to everyone. Left and right helical antennas were placed; two per venue, and over 4000 feet of fiber created a full loop to all four locations. If one section was cut, it could reroute itself without a glitch, every frame staying online. Fifteen separate channels of party line and approximately 40 point to points allowed uninterrupted communication throughout the four days and nights of live broadcasting.

An additional feature ATK Versacom added in 2008 was to provide the broadcast feed to an FM transmitter. This feed was transmitted across the entire mountain, transmitting the feed from the production trucks to the slope style half-pipe venue. This allowed spectators to watch one event while listening to the live coverage of another simultaneously. Overall, Winter X Games 12 was an enormously successful event for ATK Versacom. Obstacles were overcome, challenges met and frostbite avoided.