After spending the past year on the ground, The Condor was ready to fly.
Mat Hoffman, who after last year's X Games announced his retirement, returned to Philadelphia to participate in Bike Stunt Vert.
The 30-year-old Hoffman made history on Saturday night, pulling off the unthinkable in his second run -- a no-handed 900. Wearing all black and riding a bright yellow bike, Hoffman soared above the First Union Center floor, completing the two-and-a-half revolutions flawlessly. Nine other riders stood atop the 52-foot wide ramp, cheering in absolute awe.
"We've all thought it, we all imagined it,"
Dave Mirra said. "But imagining it, and doing it is a whole different world."
The Condor's feat, however, wasn't good enough to unseat Mirra in first place. Hoffman scored a 91.40, in part, because of handlebar problems. Time ran out as Hoffman tried to jar his handlebars back into place. He failed to correct the problem in the allotted time, but gave the delirious fans a few more tricks off the record.
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| The Condor makes history with the No-Handed 900 to take second place. |
Even the legendary Hoffman wondered if he could land the no-hand 900.
"I did try it and I've been dreaming about it for three weeks now," Hoffman said. "I've been walking around and, periodically, I go into a spin and my hands come off. And you know it's just been spinning in my head for like three weeks."
An impressed Mirra bowed to Hoffman during the medals ceremony.
"Best trick today, for sure," said Mirra, who snared his 11th career X Games gold medal. Mirra now has 14 medals. Hoffman claimed his sixth medal; his first silver.
Though he was somewhat overshadowed by Hoffman in the end, Mirra got the crowd roaring with a double-tailwhip in his first run. Mirra executed some huge airs in the near perfect run to post a 94.40.
John Parker, who finished sixth, came up just short in his crack at the same trick.
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| The winner Dave Mirra styles out the one-handed, one-footer. |
Great Britain's
Simon Tabron, who took the bronze, amped up the crowd with a no-handed 540 to the tune of a 90.80 in his first run. A wide-eyed Tabron rolled off the ramp, appearing to marvel at his own feat. Tabron admitted he missed a few opportunities in his first run.
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| Third place finisher Simon Tabron was solid all night long - candy bar. |
Sometimes great things happen when the pressure's off. No one knew what was coming after The Condor ended his first run early, just waving to the crowd and settling for an 88.80. Not a bad run at all, especially for a guy who's been enjoying retirement.
"I wasn't here to compete, I was here to enjoy myself," Hoffman said.
A carefree Hoffman spun his dream to perfection, setting a new benchmark for Bike Stunt Vert in the process. Hoffman's no-handed 900 ranks right up there with
Tony Hawk's 900 in San Francisco.
"That set new limits right there," Mirra said.
Related Photos:
BMX Vert Finals
