No, don't call it a comeback, 'cause he has really been here for years. Ok, enough of the LL Cool J crap. Jamie Bestwick is back from last year's injury and he is changing the sport of Vert riding again. Two weeks ago it was the fastplant flair that blew minds. While everyone was looking for that in his final run Bestwick decided to pull a different trick out of the bag. The lookdown to x-up flair was born. All he had to do from there was hold on and the gold was his once. He could of just held on, but no he decided to throw out an opposite 540 one-footed tabletop. That's ok...if you like that sort of thing.
There were only a few spots remaining for the X Games and Jamie already had one, so the field was wide open. John Parker laid it down in his first run with an opposite barspin to ice pick and a big 540. That was good enough for third place and an invite to X Games VIII. Kevin Robinson had solid runs but couldn't stick the flair to no-handed flair and had to settle for fourth.
When it was Mirra's turn he definitely set the tone for Bestwick, throwing a big flair and a double tailwhip to secure first. That was until Jamie dropped in for his final run. Riding well with good air, Jamie hit two 540s and the lookdown, x-up flair at the end of his run, bringing the fans and the other riders to their feet. Bestwick has won both of the EXPN Invitationals and looks to be set up for the competitions later in the summer.
Over on the park course it was time for the Inline crew to settle things. The street comp got underway like a string of Chinese firecrackers: some of the strongest street skaters in the world going head to head to head for the last chance to grab a spot at the X Games.
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| Leaders of the roll. |
The first round was heated. Ian Brown floated around the course, spinning into and out of every grind he could find, but unable to nab the true spin mizu down the twenty-foot ledge. Sam Fogarty stuck a twenty-five foot mizu to alley oop topside soul
and another twenty-five foot farvergnugen. Ryan Dawes screamed around the course, executing huge transfers and a lofty frontside gap.
The second round saw very few changes in the scoring. Ryan added a 360 to the tail end of his frontside gap and Carl Hills dropped into his run from the rail of the judges booth, but in the end, it was the first run that decided the standings. Franky Morales put together a great line, linking tricks on every obstacle in the street course to pull fourth. Jeron Grob performed his signature transfers and stylish grinds to finish third. The battle for gold came down to the wire between Carlos Pianowski and Sven Boekhurst. Both skaters threw huge 540 transfers, but while Carlos bombed the course with Brazilian aggression, wall riding and spinning into a flawless topside soul, it was Sven with his technical grinds
and precision airs who took first.
Back on the vert ramp the sun was out in full force and Andy Macdonald and Pierre Luc Gagnon were tied for first going into their final runs. The rest of the pack was a bit behind but most of the guys were still throwing it down. Chris Gentry came out blazing for his final run, throwing out an indy 540, varial 360, b/s 540, blunt to fakie and plenty of flip tricks to get him into the top three. He was stoked after his run and he should be, seeing as how Sunday was his birthday as well.
Local hero Anthony Furlong is already going to Philadelphia for the X Games but he still ripped it up on all of his runs. Leading off with a heelflip indy and then kickflip indy on the following wall. It wasn't just his board that was spinning though, Furlong threw out a large b/s 540 and a rodeo 540 during each of his runs.
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| Andy Mac goes home with gold. |
When it came down to it though, Andy Macdonald stepped to the plate and racked up another competition win. Going second to last, he went big all through his run, checking in with three different 540 variations and three nollie heelflip tricks among many other things. Pierre dropped in last, but just didn't have enough ammo left in the clip to catch Andy. He went out with a McTwist 540 and an indy 540 but didn't have enough flip tricks to catch up. The second place didn't seem to bother him though, as he threw his helmet and board out to the crowd. When the young kid who got the helmet later came up to Pierre to show him, he replied "Sick. Nice one." Think that kid has a story for school tomorrow?
Wrapping things up were the two-wheelers back on the street course. The event took on more of a small "session with friends" feeling than anything else. Most all of the riders at the event were on hand to give it up for their friends for the hour-long final. With the event being so close to the BMX hotbed of Greensville, NC the final was a mix of experienced competitive riders and some new faces to the competition scene. Van Homan even made his way down to Atlanta to take part, finishing seventh.
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| Bikes took over the new X Games Skatepark. |
Some of the more well-known names were upset though as Allistair Whitton took first with a clean run highlighted by a nice turndown transfer and some good tech riding on the rails. Seth Kimbrough earned his spot to the X Games by finishing second. Kimbrough used almost the entire course and had some great lines. Jay Miron finished in third and if it weren't for a fall in his final run he might have taken second or first. Jay was going big, with a 360 tailwhip over the box and some good tech around the mini ramp.
With that, the second EXPN Invitational was over and it was time to pack up and get ready for the summer season of competitions. Atlanta was a great host but for some it's time to move on to Philly for the X Games in August.
Related Photos:
Skateboarding Vert Gallery
BMX Park Gallery
BMX Vert Practice
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