SAN FRANCISCO - After a two-year absence, the Best Trick competition returned to the X Games last year and, in a city renowned for earth-shaking events, the aftershocks are still being felt.

Tony Hawk's 900 may have done more for raising skateboarding's Q rating than any single event in its history. Hardcore skateboarders stood in slack-jawed awe of the accomplishment and casual fans couldn't help but notice the raves it got, even in the mainstream press. Last year's Best Trick competition raised the overall awareness of skateboarding in the public eye and goosed competitors to new heights at events.

According to X Games host Sal Masekela, last year's rumble carried over into this year's event and the reverberations mean great things for skateboarding.

"I think the the excitement level picked up where it left off last year. I think people have really ridden the wave of how much history went down at last year's X Games," said Masekela. "The way we benefited from mainstream media, there's been this constant flow where everyone's been getting more and more exposure and coming in here I felt like it's higher than ever."

Burnquist is euphoric after landing the "best trick"

The benefits that accrue to skateboarding in particular and all action sports in general are immediately apparent to Masekela just by looking at the number of people walking the concourses at the 2000 X Games, and will bear fruit in the future judging from what kids are doing on boards just 12 months removed from Hawk's masterpiece.

"The crowds here on the first day were way more than we saw last year on the first day," said Masekela. "And the kids are more than aware of what's going on, wether it's tricks or what have you. When we were kids and first started skateboarding, being able to do an ollie or a ho-ho was the best thing ever. I see kids jumping down stairs at 8 years old and doing things I never even thought of doing at their age."

Bob Burnquist's victory and the obvious popularity of the event will ensure that Best Trick is an X Games staple for years to come and Best Trick will ensure that there will be skateboarders rising through the ranks to compete here.

"We have alot to look forward to," said Masekela. "A constant evolution and progression of what most people are finally starting to realize is not a trend."

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