The business of action sports just got more extreme today when X Games announced an expansion from three competitions to six starting in 2013. Named Global X, three new cities will be chosen the host the contest via a bidding process similar to the Olympics. Winning cities will be given the right to hold Global X for three years. The existing venues in Aspen, L.A., and Tignes, France will remain.

The open bidding means Canada could potentially see a full scale production of an X Games event for the first time, if any cities apply. In 2003 Whistler was home to the winter portion of a one-off X Games event called X Games Global Championship. The summer portion was held simultaneously in San Antonio, Texas. The new Global X Games bidding site makes a strong case for the benefits of hosting the four day event, as does this video from CNBC International.

The question, of course, is whether a future focused so heavily on competition is really the best for action sports. On one hand, it creates massive exposure for the sport and the athletes, giving them far higher earning power. And why shouldn’t action sports athletes be compensated fairly for what they do?

On the other hand, main stream exposure and the involvement of corporate sponsors run the risk of diluting the punk attitude of action sports that made them so attractive to youth. Action sports have carved a place out by refusing to conform to the norms of other sports and by celebrating individual expression and style above all else. In a spin-to-win environment will this emphasis on style still exist? And as more action sports athletes become household names, will the sports maintain their appeal or will kids move on to the next new thing?

What do you think?

Read the full story on ESPN here: http://sports.espn.go.com/action/news/story?id=6553598

See ESPN's bidding site here: http://www.bidxgames.com/