0:00:08 > 0:00:09Hey, guys.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11Martin here with your Friday Newsround!
0:00:11 > 0:00:12Loads coming up.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Like some amazing ski stunts at the X Games...
0:00:14 > 0:00:22And the starlings that look more like a slinky in the sky!
0:00:26 > 0:00:28We have just 12 days until the Winter Olympics
0:00:28 > 0:00:30in Pyeongchang get underway, where some of the best athletes
0:00:30 > 0:00:34will be showing off their skills on the ice and snow.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36But if you can't wait till then, here's a taste
0:00:36 > 0:00:38of something pretty special.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39Check this out.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40Flips!
0:00:40 > 0:00:41Flicks!
0:00:41 > 0:00:42Spins!
0:00:42 > 0:00:43Tricks!
0:00:43 > 0:00:44Add a lot of snow.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47The amazing daredevils are competing in the 2018 X Games,
0:00:47 > 0:00:51which are taking place in Aspen in the US.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Over the next four days, some of the best freestyle skiers,
0:00:53 > 0:00:56snowboarders, snowmobilers and snow bikers will take over Buttermilk
0:00:56 > 0:01:01Mountain for the action sports competition.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05The X Games started over 20 years ago, in the)summertime.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08It was not until two years later in 1995, that a winter
0:01:08 > 0:01:10competition was added.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Giving men and women the chance to do things
0:01:12 > 0:01:20like this!
0:01:21 > 0:01:23This is awesome!
0:01:23 > 0:01:24These guys are the business!
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Bring on the Winter Olympics!
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Next to one of the toughest ocean marathons in the world -
0:01:31 > 0:01:33the World Yacht race - and to Nikki Henderson,
0:01:33 > 0:01:34the youngest ever race winner!
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Watch this.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Sailing across open oceans under blue skies.
0:01:39 > 0:01:46Sounds like a dream, doesn't?
0:01:46 > 0:01:47-- doesn't it?
0:01:47 > 0:01:48-- doesn't it?
0:01:48 > 0:01:50But these crews have to sail 40,000 nautical miles across
0:01:50 > 0:01:52the world.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54The incredible journey starts here in the UK, sailing from
0:01:54 > 0:01:55Liverpool to South America.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Then up to the tip of Africa, around Australia, up to China,
0:01:58 > 0:02:00all the way to Seattle in West Coast of the
0:02:00 > 0:02:03United States, to New York on the east coast, and back to the
0:02:03 > 0:02:04UK again!
0:02:04 > 0:02:06It takes almost a whole year to complete!
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Phew!
0:02:08 > 0:02:11I feel exhausted just thinking about it.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13But it has not been too much for Nikki to handle.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17She is sailing in the Clipper around the world yacht races as part
0:02:17 > 0:02:21of team Visit Seattle.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24And they have won one of the most difficult race stages,
0:02:24 > 0:02:28sailing from the island of Tasmania up to the east coast of Australia.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32The big win means 24-year-old Nikki from Guildford is now the youngest
0:02:32 > 0:02:39ever skipper to win a race in the competition.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41This route alone took 11 days, with the crew facing
0:02:41 > 0:02:44massive storms and winds as powerful as a small hurricane.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49So, how are they feeling?
0:02:49 > 0:02:51The race was really tough, actually.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53Tougher than any of us were expecting.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55It was a challenging race.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57They are now halfway through the entire race
0:02:57 > 0:03:02route, all 40,000 nautical miles of it!
0:03:02 > 0:03:05At least they get a little bit of a break before starting the next
0:03:05 > 0:03:08race stage, which will take them almost 6000 miles to China.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Best of luck, guys!
0:03:10 > 0:03:11And enjoy your time off.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Sounds like you have definitely earned it.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Staying at sea, plastic is one of the biggest threats
0:03:18 > 0:03:22to the future of coral reefs, followed by increasing
0:03:22 > 0:03:24ocean temperatures, scientists are warning.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27More than 11 billion items of plastic were found on a third
0:03:27 > 0:03:30of coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific region, and that could rise
0:03:30 > 0:03:34to 15 billion by 2025.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Coral which comes into contact with plastic is far more
0:03:37 > 0:03:42likely to develop diseases than other sealife.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45From the sea to the sky next, and to one of nature's
0:03:45 > 0:03:47most spectacular sights.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49From a distance they might look like dancing clouds,
0:03:49 > 0:03:53but actually what you're seeing is thousands of starlings swooping,
0:03:53 > 0:03:57soaring, and spiralling through the skies over Israel.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00This synchronised flying is called a murmuration,
0:04:00 > 0:04:04and they use it to protect themselves from predators.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06As well as confusing them, the wind they create
0:04:06 > 0:04:08from their sudden movements can actually knock a hawk
0:04:08 > 0:04:13or falcon flat on their back!
0:04:13 > 0:04:14Pretty impressive, right?
0:04:14 > 0:04:16One more thing before we go...
0:04:16 > 0:04:19You know when you're hanging out, playing basketball and you're like,
0:04:19 > 0:04:26"Hey guess what, I'll just throw it backwards over my head"?
0:04:26 > 0:04:27CHEERING
0:04:27 > 0:04:28Whoa!
0:04:28 > 0:04:31That was James from Nebraska in America, showing off his skills
0:04:31 > 0:04:34before his high school basketball team played.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36James has Down's Syndrome and was raising money
0:04:36 > 0:04:39for a local charity.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41These clips of his awesome throw went all around
0:04:41 > 0:04:43the world on social media.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Even the Harlem Globetrotters loved it.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49Great shot, dude!
0:04:49 > 0:04:50That's it from me.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Whitney's here at 8:30 tomorrow morning.
0:04:52 > 0:05:00Have a great weekend.