It’s finally back! Winter XGames is dropping this Thursday for back-to-back action, with stars pushing the craziest shit you have ever seen done on snow.

Sure, Summer X is fun, but in recent years, with skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers pushing their sports to unimaginable levels, Winter X certainly seems to have taken the crown the last few years as the premier event.

So what do you need to know?

Where: The XGames are back in Aspen, which makes sense. Buttermilk Mountain just cannot be beat as far as venues go. 

When: Thursday, January 26th at 12:30 p.m. - Sunday, January 29th at 2 a.m.

Watch: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN3D and ABC

If you're not an XGames junkie like a lot of us here in the SUMO office, read on below where we have given you a list of must see events. During the four days of competition, there will be a lot of prelims and qualifiers, all which are fun, but tend not to bring out the “Holy Shit” effect. So if you are limited on time or have limited space on your DVR, make sure not to miss the following events.

SUMOskinny Recommendations

Men’s Snowboard Big Air Final (Friday)

Last year the crazy Norwegian, Torstein Horgmo, busted out a triple cork to win the X Games gold. I can’t even begin to imagine, what it is going to take for this year's competitors to claim the top spot. One thing I did notice is that Mr. Consistent, Travis Rice, will not be competing. This opens up the field for quite a few, however don’t think that Horgmo and 2010 gold medalist Halldor Helgason won’t be putting on a spectacular show.

Men’s Ski SuperPipe Final (Saturday)

I am going to make a bold prediction and say this event will be the hardest to judge and closest scored event at all of XGames. If you look at the starting list of who is competing this year and know a thing or two about what has been going on in skiing superpipe, you know that any one of these guys can win!  Except for maybe Wing Tai Barrymore. I have never heard of him before. However, probably now that I have called him out, we will be seeing him on the podium Saturday night. If there are any events not to miss, this might be one of them. 

Men’s Ski Big Air Final (Saturday)

All I am going to say is, Triple Threat. Two years ago we saw Bobby Brown, throw the first double to take XGames gold. Doubles are just not going to cut it two years in a row. It’s time for a triple. Skiing’s elite have been throwing triples all across the globe this year. Bobby Brown landed the first triple cork 14 a few months ago, with Russ Henshaw following suit only one day later. One day after him Elias Ambühl, won the Jon Olsson Invitational with his own cork 14 mute. Lastly, rumor has it that Sammy Carlson has his very own switch triple rodeo dialed down as well, so this year's Mens Ski Big Air Final is going to be an event worth watching every second of. 

Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe Final (Sunday)

A lot of people think this event is going to be handed to Shaun White again. When was the last time he lost? I can’t remember. It is time however he lost those super tight pants he has been sporting the last two years. I really don’t want to watch this event just because of them. BUT! I will be watching because I think we will be witnessing an upset. Kazu Kokubo, a Japanese export has been throwing down some of the biggest, sickest airs for years, but always seemed to come up just short at Winter X. I am going to guess he takes gold this year. 

Snowmobile Best-Trick Final (Sunday) 

This is probably the most insane event you might witness all week. If you have ever tried to drive a snowmobile, you will know that it is hard enough to drive that 500-pound machine in a straight line. The guys will be bombing it at an enormous jump and throwing the craziest trick they have. In the past we have seen double backflips and Backflip 360's. Sadly the two favorites, Levi LeVallee and title defender Daniel Bodin have had to pull out because of injuries, leaving the gold medal chances wide open. Even though these two guys are out, the event should just be plain insanity.