Behind the scenes at X Games Austin 2016

A skateboarder practices on the Big Air Ramp Wednesday.

X Games Austin 2016 begins today. Watch coverage on ESPN tonight beginning at 8:30 ET.

The world’s best action sports athletes return to Austin, Texas, to compete for X Games gold and prize money. ESPN and ABC will televise a combined 21 hours of live X Games Austin content with more than five hours of competition airing exclusively on ESPN3, as well as the latest coverage across ESPN digital platforms, including XGames.com, the X Games app, and X Games pages across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and more.

ESPN Images will capture all the action through the event’s conclusion Sunday. This photo gallery provides a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation for the event.

Workers fasten scaffolding on a ramp on the X Games Austin course.

Here’s a glimpse at an X Games production shoot.

Satellites help relay ESPN’s X Games coverage globally.

Vice President, X Games, Tim Reed (orange shirt) addresses the production team.