Wednesday, July 23
CFB X Games BMX Qualifier -- Wooward West
By George Crosland
EXPN.com
EXPN.com
The X Games bike roster is complete, as nearly 40 riders qualified at the CFB X Games Qualifier July 18. Why so many open spots? Many qualifying events where cancelled this year, so it all came down to this weekend. For someone trying to make a living riding bikes, an X Games spot can help, so guys were going full-tilt bozo for a chance to ride in L.A.
The event went down at Woodward West, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Woodward is the ultimate kid playground; insane terrain, lots of activities and a mom-friendly setting. We went to check out the action and how construction of the X Games Downhill track is coming along.
The X Games spots were the real prizes and with so many spots up for grabs, everyone who made it to the finals qualified. Many athletes who'd already qualified didn't even show up. The few who did cruised in an attempt to avoid injury. A lot of the vert riders left straight from finals to LAX and boarded a plane to ride in the Ramps and Amps stop in NYC the next day.
All the events took place at the existing Woodward facilities; nothing special was built for the comp. The atmosphere was as laid back as any comp I can remember, kind of like a day of riding with your friends. Most riders dug the scene, but some felt an event of this proportion warranted more money. First place scored $1,100. Compare that to the $25,000 grand Ramps and Amps handed out to winners the next day. But overall, the rootsy feel and unique setup was a cool change of pace.
Vert
Jamie Bestwick showed up to qualify for X, along with eight other vert rippers. Jamie did a sick fastplant flair but he was saving his flashier tricks for Ramps & Amps and the X Games. Kevin Robinson qualified previously and easily took second. Tom Stober ripped it up after pulling a nice run.
The vert ramp had a 10-foot channel and was semi-bowled on one end. The new configuration caused some riders to hold back a little.
Dirt
The dirt jump course looked more like backyard trails than an X Games setup. The long, challenging course had tight, fast jumps and took mad skills to hit a smooth line. Sick tricks went down; backflips, tailwhips, 360's -- but it was mostly about getting through the course. Many riders said the last jump was particularly difficult. Said TJ Lavin: "I am having so many problems with that jump."
There were four sets of jumps to choose from. Most riders chose the big, outside set. Some chose the smaller, inside set nestled in the trees. A few used both. Only Stephen Murray attempted a huge transfer from one to the other.
Park
The Park course was huge. It had five levels and was completely bowled in. Standing in the middle, it felt like being on the moon surrounded by Skatelite-covered craters and wedges. Some guys went huge, going from level two to level five in one jump. It was fun to see the guys work the unique setup.
The finals were pretty close -- the judges had to break several ties. Everybody was beat after a day in the heat. Woodward instructor Ron Kimler shredded the place. He found crazy lines and was one of the few to hit a huge gap jump. Scotty Crammer, at 16, will be the youngest bike competitor in L.A. Van Homan won the whole event -- look for him to do well in L.A.
Many of the "big names," like Allan Cooke and Chris Doyle, didn't make it to the finals. Ryan Guettler made the finals but blew them off. Ryan would have most likely qualified for the X Games. Ryan, why'd ya bail?
"It's not an X Games course, there's no box jumps or spines." -- Allan Cooke
X Games Downhill Course
The X Games Downhill event will be held at Woodward and when this course is finished, it will be radical, friends. It's steep, fast and has huge jumps. Add some s-turns and big step-downs and look out! Once completed, it will truly be a course built for the best in the world.
The course goes like this: the first straightaway has two gap jumps into a serious right-left snaking s-turn, with a jump from turn one into turn two. The second straight has one gap jump and five rollers into a steeply banked 180° right turn. The third straight is long and gnarly: two gap jumps followed by a big step-down, a huge gap jump and a huge step-up. This is followed by a left-right s-turn into the final straightaway. The final straight has some gap jumps and a big final jump. Trust me, this course will be insane.
This camp is great. If you have the chance to check it out, do so. Mow lawns, take out the trash, beg ... just get there. There is so much to ride and skate, it's crazy. In addition to the courses, there are photo workshops, a bowling alley, a movie theatre, a swimming pool and more.
Thirty seconds with Park rider Chris Doyle ...
EXPN.com: How do you feel about the dirt jump course?
Doyle: The course is awesome. It's big and fast and is more trails-style than normal contest dirt jumps made after box jumps. It eliminated a couple of guys and let those that ride trails show through a little more.
What about 10 dudes having to qualify at one contest?
I was kinda bummed at that because a lot of different contests have different styles of jumps. Some are small and technical and some are big and fast like these. You can't judge a guy that's technical on jumps like this. It kinda sucks, but its no one's fault. They did the best they could
Vert Results:
1. Jamie Bestwick*
2. Kevin Robinson**
3. Koji Kraft*
4. Jimmy Walker*
5. Tom Stober*
6. Matt Fairbairn*
7. Pardal Rodrigues*
8. Jeremy Fanberg*
9. John Parker*
10. Dennis McCoy*
*Qualified for X Games
**Previously Qualified
Dirt Results:
1. Corey Bohan *
2. Chris Doyle **
3. Steve McCann *
4. Corey Nastazio *
5. TJ Lavin **
6. Stephen Murray *
7. Rob Darden *
8. Mike Aitken *
9. Paul Kitner *
10. Mark Kehl *
11. Darin Read *
12. Joe Marks *
13. Jerry Bagley *
* Qualified for X Games
** Previously Qualified
Park Results:
1. Van Homan*
2. Morgan Wade*
3. Ron Kimler*
4. Rob Darden*
5. Brian Foster*
6. Tom Haugen*
7. Scotty Crammer*
8. Seth Kimbrough*
9. Rooftop
10. Ryan Guettler
* Qualified for X Games
Flat Results:
1. Simon O'Brien**
2. Matt Wilhelm**
3. Manual Prado*
4. Jesse Puente*
5. Michael Somner*
6. York Uno*
7. Chad Johnston*
8. Travis Collier*
9. Terry Adams*
10. Hiro Morisake*
*Qualified for X Games
**Previously Qualified
The event went down at Woodward West, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Woodward is the ultimate kid playground; insane terrain, lots of activities and a mom-friendly setting. We went to check out the action and how construction of the X Games Downhill track is coming along.
The X Games spots were the real prizes and with so many spots up for grabs, everyone who made it to the finals qualified. Many athletes who'd already qualified didn't even show up. The few who did cruised in an attempt to avoid injury. A lot of the vert riders left straight from finals to LAX and boarded a plane to ride in the Ramps and Amps stop in NYC the next day.
 |
| Scotty Crammer, at 16 years old, will be one of youngest guys in the X Games. Let's hope he can pull off madness like this 360 whip in L.A. |
Vert
 |
| Corey Nastazio pulls down an Indian Air over the particularly difficult last jump. |
Park
 |
| Gotta' give love to the ams -- Eric Van Tine gets seriously inverted with one foot on the wall. |
Thirty seconds with Park rider Chris Doyle ...
EXPN.com: How do you feel about the dirt jump course?
Doyle: The course is awesome. It's big and fast and is more trails-style than normal contest dirt jumps made after box jumps. It eliminated a couple of guys and let those that ride trails show through a little more.
What about 10 dudes having to qualify at one contest?
I was kinda bummed at that because a lot of different contests have different styles of jumps. Some are small and technical and some are big and fast like these. You can't judge a guy that's technical on jumps like this. It kinda sucks, but its no one's fault. They did the best they could
 |
| Jamie Bestwick dropped in to qualify for the X Games ... like he wouldn't have made it, Jamie could have phoned it in. |
1. Jamie Bestwick*
2. Kevin Robinson**
3. Koji Kraft*
4. Jimmy Walker*
5. Tom Stober*
6. Matt Fairbairn*
7. Pardal Rodrigues*
8. Jeremy Fanberg*
9. John Parker*
10. Dennis McCoy*
*Qualified for X Games
**Previously Qualified
Dirt Results:
1. Corey Bohan *
2. Chris Doyle **
3. Steve McCann *
4. Corey Nastazio *
5. TJ Lavin **
6. Stephen Murray *
7. Rob Darden *
8. Mike Aitken *
9. Paul Kitner *
10. Mark Kehl *
11. Darin Read *
12. Joe Marks *
13. Jerry Bagley *
* Qualified for X Games
** Previously Qualified
Park Results:
1. Van Homan*
2. Morgan Wade*
3. Ron Kimler*
4. Rob Darden*
5. Brian Foster*
6. Tom Haugen*
7. Scotty Crammer*
8. Seth Kimbrough*
9. Rooftop
10. Ryan Guettler
* Qualified for X Games
Flat Results:
1. Simon O'Brien**
2. Matt Wilhelm**
3. Manual Prado*
4. Jesse Puente*
5. Michael Somner*
6. York Uno*
7. Chad Johnston*
8. Travis Collier*
9. Terry Adams*
10. Hiro Morisake*
*Qualified for X Games
**Previously Qualified
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