ANAHEIM, Calif. -- From where I was sitting, Dave Mirra definitely dominated the scene today. Dave was throwing down like I've never seen him throw down before. He pulled a wicked triple barspin, some nasty 540s that would make an F-16 pilot puke, and the highest airs all day long. But what do I know? I'm just a small-time EXPN reporter. Mirra pulled off more tricks and launched bigger airs than everyone by at least four feet, and landed some of the sickest tricks I've seen Dave Mirra ever try.

Mirra was the man grinding the competition down again today.

Seventeen-year-old Josh Harrington threw down today and gained much respect from the seasoned field of riders. Harrington sessioned some of the sickest runs of the day. Going big all-day long, the up-and-comer Harrington went wicked with some sick 540s, barspins galore, and huge airs that definitely earned him some respect.

Another surprise was much-traveled and hard-ridden Rick Thorne. Our man at EXPN2day rode tough today with some huge second-run 360 tailwhips and some truly burly riding that made all of us here at EXPN super-proud. Rick just finished rehabing his third ACL surgery in two years and in his first comp back he definitely rode with some determination.

Three knee surgeries aren't anything to the man in black.

Other standouts were the iron-hearted one, Dennis McCoy, and Simon Tibron. DMC definitely showed his heart today: after having some tough practice falls, he bounced back to finish tough in the overall preliminary standings. Dennis threw down with a variety of burly tricks that would have had the most seasoned of BMX Vert riders shaking in their Etnies. I witnessed magnificent grinds, X-outs, huge airs and the gnarliest of wrecks all of which the undamageable DMC took in stride. Dennis was tough today.

Simon Tibron was definitely one to watch. The Summer X Games bronze-medalist stunned the Anaheim crowd with some massive airs and insane 540s. Simon was one of the only other guys to match Mirra's airs today. Tibron truly was impressive and one to watch this season. He definitely has his eyes on something better than third place this year.

The riding was good, the music was loud and the sun was shining. What more could you ask for?

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