Sunday night the wife and I went down to check out the vert finals. They were supposed to start at 7:00, but didn't get going until eight (while the NBC cameras and mics were set up). It was pretty annoying and prompted Rick Thorne to start the crowd's "bull shit" chant, but once they got started it was worth it. Some vert highlights:
Rob Nolli: noseroll to barspin back in. McCoy: high flair, 540 lookback, HIGH variations, almost a 900. Simon Tabron: started his second run going directly into back-to-back 540s, but crashed on the second one; he was down for a while, but eventually got back on his bike and pulled a 900! Dave Mirra: seemed off his game; high airs both ways; people booed when he was in third after his first run (which I felt was judged correctly). Kevin Robinson: had his own cheerleaders in the crowd; very high airs, 540 variations, smooth flair. John Parker: 1-hand 1-footed framestand air, almost a body varial air. Jay Miron: 540 tailwhip, insanely high flair (crashed). Jamie Bestwick: nonstop airs with variations WAY too high (both ways), 540 alley-oop the entire ramp, body-checking the annoying cameraman who was in his way.
How this contest compared to the other major contests I can't say (I haven't been to one of those since ESPN last held the Extreme Games in Rhode Island). If you overlook some of the cheesiness, it was pretty rad seeing so much good riding (and skating) in such a small area. NBC might ruin things with lame commentary (like ESPN usually does), but that's why TVs have mute buttons.
Bike Stunt Dirt Results
Gold: Ryan Nyquist
Silver: Todd Walkowiak
Bronze: T.J. Lavin
Bike Stunt Street Results
Gold: Dave Mirra
Silver: Ryan Nyquist
Bronze: Jay Miron
Bike Stunt Vert Results
Gold: Jamie Bestwick
Silver: Jay Miron
Bronze: John Parker
View all results...
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