SAN FRANCISCO -- This is a story of two park skateboarders. Both are among the elite in the sport and have X Games gold. One skater took home the X Games gold in '99, while the other skater climbed the podium for gold in '98. The same skater that won the gold in '99 managed to wear the gold in '97, while the same skater who won gold in '98 skated to gold in '96. Confusing isn't it?

Does anybody notice a trend?

Skateboarding Park competiors Rodil de Araujo, Jr. and Chris Senn have been swapping X Game gold for the last five years. It is a trend that is strange and unique, and they'll again compete against each other Tuesday, the final day of the 2000 X Games.

"I guess Rodil will win this year and its my turn next year (laughing). That works out perfect, if I lose I have an excuse," Senn laughed.

Though Senn jokes about this trend, he is very serious in his skating. He won his gold medal last year by using the entire course and taking lines not used by other skateboard competitors. Very aggressive in his skating, he speeds around on angle of a course.

"I like just pure skateboarding," said Senn.

While fans may watch the speed of Senn on a skateboard, Araujo's style is more technical. "Rodil is very technical in his skateboarding and he has a lot of control. His technical control is amazing."

The two styles of these skaters have captured the X Games gold in Skateboarding street event over the past five years. In that time, most people may think that Araujo and Senn have an intense rivalry, but the two are not bitter rivals. Senn has a great deal of respect for Araujo as a skater.

Said a smiling Senn, "Skateboarding is just not competitive, it's just luck. If you skate well you skate well."

Despite his skating ties to Araujo, Senn is happy to be competing at this summer's X Games.

"I am just trying to stay alive. I am pretty messed up right now. My ankle is really messed up, I am just trying to not get hurt," said Senn.

Senn recently hurt his ankle during a competition in Germany. This is the first time he has skated since the injury one month ago.

If history holds true, we will be watching skater de Araujo taking home the gold this year. Or will the trend be broken this year?

"Honestly, I hadn't even noticed the trend, my dad was telling me about it. I was like, "Oh, you are right, that is crazy," said Senn. "We are just having fun and we get paid to do it and that's just the best thing in the world to us, and that's all that really matters to us. We don't care who is the best, we are just happy that each of us can do it, that's what it's all about."

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