Winners this week at the X Games will return home with a bit of cash, national TV exposure and some hardware that will always remind them of Minnesota.

Or, at least the Vikings.

In a nod to the permanent tenants of U.S. Bank Stadium - site of this week's four-day X Games run - the gold, silver and bronze medals handed out resemble Viking ships.

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This is the first time the X Games have come to the Twin Cities and at each different stop organizers try to incorporate some sort of local influence to the design of the medals.

Competition gets underway Thursday.

A close-up of the X Games Minneapolis gold medal.
Provided photo
A close-up of the X Games Minneapolis gold medal.