SAN FRANCISCO -- On Monday, Eric Koston's toughest competitor was a T-shirt. Before the 2000 X Games Skateboarding Park competition, Koston's buddies had "Koston Three-Peat" T-shirts especially made for the occasion.

"There was a little pressure there (from the shirt). It caught me off guard," said Koston. "I didn't know that they did that and Saturday night they all showed up with them on."

His friends had good reason to make the shirts. Koston was a winner in two other events this year. He took firsts in competitions at the Gravity Games in Rhode Island and in a competition in Germany. A win here at the X Games would keep him rolling in the win column.

"They gave them out before the first run, so that added more pressure," said Koston.

Koston grinds his way to victory.

If Koston felt pressure, he did not show it during his first run. Already an innovator in park skating, he pulled off a stylish and fluid run. He hit some frontside 50-50's, and nailed some tailslides to earn a score of 93.5.

"I did have some tricks in mind for today. My combo tricks did it for me today and landing them, that's what usually does it."

Going into his second run, Koston had a five-point lead over the rest of the competition. Brazil's Rodil de Araujo Jr. took the silver after failing to medal in the event last year. De Araujo Jr. was in seventh place going into his final run, but put together a solid performance. He showed good use of transfers in his run, and posted a score of 90.50 which vaulted him into second place.

Kerry Getz, who took first place at the X Trials in Nashville, finished third.

"I was able to hit all of the tricks I wanted but not all of the course, it's hard to hit the entire course," said Getz. "I was pretty excited that I landed everything and stayed on."

However, in a day that showcased the true creativity involved in street skating, Eric Koston was the real star.

"I did what I wanted to do, and I didn't fall, so I ended up winning," said a smiling Koston.

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