Wednesday, August 6

In The Dirt -- 08.06.03

By Alex Thompson
EXPN.com

	Alex is the Editor of FreestyleMTX.com and a commentator for ESPN's Moto X Championship Series.

This week's In The Dirt will temporarily be renamed In The Foam, as much of the practice going into X Games IX is happening in foam pits. At an undisclosed location in Maryland, four of this year's top X competitors apparently have the 360 on lock down in the foam. [Ed. note: Hmmm, who lives in Marlyand?]

While the current hubbub is about flip variations like Dave Demangos' "Diamond Back", a backflip heel clicker to no-handed lander, and the introduction of the 360, don't forget that last year Mike Metzger sailed 80 feet off a dirt lip and pulled a clean backflip. It still stands as a feat yet to be attempted by anyone at a distance even close to his.

This week, Metz pulled the flip at Disney off a 75-foot ramp smooth as silk, and a reliable source informed me someone is gunning the flip right now at 60 feet. Flipping the big ramp may prove the deal-breaker and determine who takes gold this year in the freestyle competition. Metz gave me a message for anyone competing in the X Games, "If you do any trick off the super-kicker, I'll do it off a ramp at 75 feet."

Metz and his three fellow X Games IX brothers, Myles Richmond, Chuck Carothers and Drake McElroy, have made each of the four shows they do every day at Disney's California Adventure into a mini X Games proving ground. Chuck pulled a one-handed KOD, Metz has a one-handed backflip and a backflip heel clicker (which he calls the McNasty), Drake is busting ridiculous combos and Mylo is working out the kinks after taking a dirt sample coming back from a huge "side show" last week.

They are all training in the foam pit this week, egging one another on. So far, it's produced substantial results. We'll see how the east-coast vs. west coast foam training shakes out at the X Games, and chances are the Freestyle comp will reveal the new "must haves" leading into the final Big Air event.

Hiding under the radar as usual is Aussie Dayne Kinnaird. Dayne is a combo-killing machine, and he has the flip -- leaving room for a potential upset in the freestyle medal ranks.

In Step-Up news, gold medal miser Tommy Clowers took time off several weeks ago to have much-needed surgery on his ankle. Tommy's demo schedule has been brutal this year and it seems he's banking on another Step-Up medal at X. He hasn't added new tricks to his game in a while, and is not expected to contend among the top ranks in Freestyle, where he was voted in as a wildcard. When asked about Jeff Tilton and Matt Buyten, who are seriously gunning for the gold in Step-Up, he waved off any potential threat.

One critical thing to remember about this year's X Games -- Step-Up is the first competition. Last year, Travis Pastrana's hiccup during Step-Up at the Gravity Games cost him his ticket to X. Chances are that Deegan, Metz, Bartram, Demangos, Renner, Richmond and Bamberg aren't going to compromise their Big Air or Freestyle competitions if the height starts getting steep. That might give Tommy, Tilt and Buyten a better shot at a medal.

If you haven't satisfied your flip fix, check out "Flipped Out", a new DVD produced by MXi (www.mediax.tv) and Rhino Transport. This new flick is a history of the most controversial trick in Freestyle, as told by the riders who made it a reality. Featuring in-depth interviews with Carey Hart, Caleb Wyatt and Mike Metzger, "Flipped Out" is a needed departure from the moto video norm. The star-studded premiere happens August 14th just as the Summer X Games kicks off. Check back for a recap of the party at the House Of Blues.

The most insane events in Freestyle Moto X take place at the X Games. If you are in Southern California, bone up five clams and get your keister to the Staples Center and the Coliseum. We'll see you in the dirt at X Games IX!

For more news from freestyle's biggest online community, visit www.freestylemtx.com.