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X Games 15 Lives Up To Grand Stage
Sponsored by ESPN, Los Angeles California served as the
host site for X Games 15 in what was considered an anniversary
year for the extreme sport showcase. The event took place
at both the Staples Center and the Home Depot Center and
was broadcast on three cable networks. Because this year's
event was marketed as an anniversary for the games, many
of the top athletes from the past were brought in and
two new events were introduced to the program. There was
quite a bit of hype to live up to, and the competitors
and organizers scored an 11 on the awesometer.
One of the new events was the Skateboard Big Air Rail
Jam, which was created by medalist boarder Danny Way.
Big Air Rail Jam features a gap-to-rail element that was
added to the Big Air Ramp. Skaters were able to gap off
the 50-foot Big Air kicker to a 20-foot long rainbow rail.
Even though the competition was tight, few in the massive
crowd were shocked when Danny Way took the gold medal.
The other new event was the Skateboard Park Legends. Skateboard
Park Legends is a jam-style competition on a fast-flowing
course that was modeled after some of the best concrete
skate parks in the world. The Legends field featured an
all-star lineup of skateboard icons including Christian
Hosoi, Lance Mountain, and Steve Caballero. All of today's
elite skateboarders who continue to push the progression
of skateboarding were in on this. Even with the intimidating
cast of players, the king of the day was once again Rune
Glifberg. The popular Glifberg was competing in his 15th
X Games and is one of the few athletes to participate
in every one since its inception. All time legend Andy
MacDonald took the silver in the same event.
Several of the other top stars in their disciplines were
not to be denied. Kyle Loza became the first person to
three-peat in the gold medal when he won the Moto X Best
Trick competition. Some of the rowdy crowd felt just a
bit cheated when he cinched the gold using his same The
Electric Doom trick that he rode to victory in 2008. His
fans, however, ate it up. A three-peat is a three-peat
when you're risking life and limb.
Jamie Bestwick took the gold in the BMX Freestyle Vert
to make it a three-peat in that event. Andy MacDonald,
Ricky Carmichael, Bob Burnquist, and Gary Young were all
among those who won two medals this year. Long-time favorite
Travis Pastrana took the silver medal in Rally Car Racing.
It was a coming together of the current record breakers
and trend setters of the X Games with the decorated heroes
of previous years. Veterans like Bucky Lasek gave up-and-comer
Alex Perelson everything he could handle in the Men's
Skate Vert. Even forty-three year old X Games rookie Kenny
Brack took home gold in Rally Car Racing. The ex-IRL racing
star, who is remembered for a devastating crash in 2003,
outraced perennial winner Pastrana to secure the top spot.
X Game 15 organizers gave themselves a tough assignment
by boasting this year's event would be the biggest and
best ever. The athletes stepped up to the challenge and
delivered incredible performances that leaves fans to
wonder what they can possibly come up with next. At least
the diehard fans who packed the Home Depot Center won't
have to wait very long for more highlights that score
on the awesometer. Winter X Games 14 is scheduled for
January 2010 in Aspen, Colorado. Book your hotel reservations
now. If the winter spectacle is anywhere near as jaw dropping
as the Summer Games, it will be the hottest ticket on
the slopes. |
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