Here we are, 2009: our first ever black president has been inaugurated and the Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl for their first time in franchise history. So what has the ninth year of the 21st century brought the X Games? Well, for starters they've upped the pipe four feet, from 18-feet to the new superpipe 22-foot-wall standard. So expect, uh, bigger things in 2009. Aside from higher airs out of the pipe, the slopestyle course is as beefed up as it's ever been. One reason is that the final jump of the course this year will also serve as the location for the big air comp.

Dave Lehl

Will Shaun White defend his superpipe title? He has shown he's not invincible this season, but remains the favorite.

And the riders this year? How are they looking? Here's a few I predict will podium at X Games 13:

Men's Field:

Shaun White (Pipe, Slopestyle): White sits at the top for both Pipe and Slope. Don't be mad at it. The fact is he's the only rider this season to consistently make the podium in both disciplines wherever he competes, be it the Dew Tour, the Burton European Open, or as I'm calling it, X Games 13. Look for at least one first place finish by White, but don't act surprised if he takes both.

Danny Davis (Pipe, Slopestyle): Last season Davis fell off the map—set back by an ankle injury—but the Michigan-bred hero is back in top form this season. After besting Shaun White at the first Dew Tour stop in Breckenridge mid-December, Davis went on to land first place at the Burton European Open slopestyle in Laax last week. With a clear determination to climb his way back to the top, expect Danny to bring the heat in both the pipe and slope disciplines here at X Games 13.

Kevin Pearce (Pipe): Last season Pearce unquestionably had the best competitive season of any rider, winning or placing in just about every major event and ultimately taking the 2008 TTR Title. At X Games alone, he was the sole rider to compete in three disciplines—pipe, slope, and big air. But this year Pearce has been slow to warm to that top podium spot and has been unable to land a first place win, until just last week at the European Open where he dominated the superpipe. Despite Pearce's absence from so many podiums this season, he remains a huge contender for pipe at X Games 13. I believe the key for Pearce is a matter of focus.

Torstein Horgmo (Slopestyle): With a his slopestyle win at the Mount Snow Dew Tour stop, Horgmo has upped his confidence (if that's possible), and will try to switch back 1260 his way to X 13 Gold. As well, the Norwegian DC rider will likely rely on a version of this trick when he competes in the big air comp.

Andreas Wiig (Slopestyle): Wiig has yet to land a first place this season, but dude has been steady lurking in the slopestyle arena, consistently falling in top five slope wherever he competes. Still, I don't expect a first place from Wiig here at X 13, though it wouldn't be a crazy scenario if the seasoned Scandinavian pulled out an upset.

Others I'm banking on: Mikkel Bang (slope), Louie Vito (pipe), Scotty Lago (pipe or slope), Mason Aguirre (pipe), Peetu Piiroinen (pipe or slope).

Women's Field:

Dave Lehl

Jaime Anderson is going for a slopestyle three-peat this year at X Games 13. Spencer O'Brien will try to stop her.

Gretchen Bleiler (Pipe): The Grand Lady of Aspen herself, always the local favorite and always a contender for first, expect Gretchen Bleiler to pull out all the old tricks—including her signature crippler. You'd think with all the love the crippler has earned Bleiler over the years that other riders would incorporate something similar into their routine—but they haven't, and Gretchen only continues to improve hers with more amplitude and finesse. Expect Bleiler to battle it out with Kelly Clark and Hannah Teter for first.

Kelly Clark (Pipe): In the women's field, as opposed to the men, the runs are easier to predict because the riders tend to change it up less. Just like Bleiler will bring the crippler, it's safe to say Clark will bring us a fill of frontside airs, perhaps throw in a frontside 9, and likely a cab 7. These are all stock for Clark, and a reason why she and Bleiler (and Hannah too, though not so much this season) are always fighting it out for first.

Jamie Anderson (Slopestyle): If it's Kelly Clark vs. Gretchen Bleiler for pipe, the other story is Jaime Anderson vs. Spencer O'Brien for slopestyle. Anderson brings more podium experience to the table, and her ability to hold it together under pressure at major events like the X Games is evident—she will be going for a three-peat in slope this year.

Spencer O'Brien (Slopestyle): The 20-year old, 2008 Transworld Female Rookie of the Year currently ranks first in overall slopestyle points for the Dew Tour. Her riding has been nothing but on point this season, and it'd be a surprise if O'Brien failed to podium here at X Games 13.