SAN FRANCISCO -- Bike stunt park riders had their second day of practice Thursday on the San Francisco waterfront. The course, as always, is a hot topic and the verdict is in: An enthusiastic, and nearly unanimous, thumb's up.

"I think it's pretty nice," said Rob Nolli, who was bent over his bike mid-way through the practice round, making some adjustments. "It's got a good variety of stuff. The big box is something kind of new. I like the quarterpipe gap. I think some of the smaller skateboard stuff looks pretty good for us, too."

On any course that will be used for different disciplines there are bound to be design features that appeal to one group while offending another. Skateboarders, in-line skaters and bike stunt guys are all looking for different structures to throw their tricks. Nolli admits not every facet of the course suits his style but he's willing to cut the guys on smaller wheels a little slack.

"Sure there's stuff that I don't prefer, but you gotta be able to compromise and that's what they did here. They came to a good compromise between what the rollerbladers and skateboarders like and what the bikes like."

The negatives that were cited had mainly to do with matters of personal taste, not overall structural defects in the course. Canadian Dave Osato figures to ride to the podium but that doesn't mean he feels the course is suited to his riding style.

"I'm not 100 percent psyched on it. I mean, it's a lot spread out and I like tighter stuff. I guess we'll just have to make do and ride it like it is," Osato said.

Overall, though, the reviews seemed to be positive. "It's a pretty good course," said Chad Kagy. "It's got the upper level skate stuff for all the tech guys and it's got big stuff, big giant vert wall, big box jump, grinds. It's overall pretty good."

The course also got high marks in comparison to other courses the riders have competed on recently. Tom Haugen competed in Providence, R.I., recently and noticed a difference in the courses.

"Coming back from the Gravity Games, which was a good course but the ramps weren't built quite as nice as these," said Haugen. "These ramps are all really smooth. The coping sticks out perfect. I didn't notice any drops at all."

Prelims for the bike stunt park event will take place Friday. When the riders are playing for keeps, they will be doing so on a course that seems to have made the grade.

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