Skateboarding

Let's face it: the X-Games Street competition is a total failure. For the longest time, I never could figure out why it bothered me so much. I should be excited about this, right? But after this year's X-Games, the issues were more evident than ever before.

Clueless Commentators:

This year I felt sorry for Tony Hawk, I really did. Sal Masekela is talented, but he doesn’t know WTF he’s talking about and it’s painfully obvious at times.

Sports analysts must operate within context—it’s not good enough to simply rattle off from a canned trick list. Could he tell us about Ron Allen? What about another Sal, Sal Barbier? This is as grave as a Football analyst being clueless about Johnny Unitas or Night Train Lane. This goes to the essence of the X-Games’ credibility. More on this later.

The Best Talent is Not Participating:

There are some major players that are conspicuously absent from the X-Games street roster. There's the old axiom "you can only be the best if you compete against the best." That's certainly NOT happening. 

Ask today's kids who they think the best rippers are, and maybe one or two of them compete in the X-Games. The other 95% are absent. Why?

It is true that many don’t like to compete, I get that. But there are other, more obvious reasons. Keep reading....  

Lame Courses:

The X-Games “course” look like a suburban skatepark instead of an urban street environment. The whole “Euro-Gap” thing? WTF is that all about? We don’t have “Euro Gaps” where I live.

There are, however, gnarly banks, super steep rails, huge stair sets, tall planters, satanic gaps, concrete monoliths, street people, etc.

These courses are in no way exciting or challenging to today’s pro skaters. The gaps are microscopic. The ledges are polished. The rails are straight as an arrow. The courses are sanitary. They are anti-Street.

Overall Lack of Historical Reference and Perspective:

One of the most interesting things in sports is the historical reference.  It puts modern accomplishments in perspective. In ALL other sports, the producers will ensure that the viewer is taken back to the glory days and those history defining moments.  They’ll tell you all about Harmon Killebrew, Archie Moore, Gayle Sayers; lesser names, but legends nonetheless.

Skateboarding may have a shorter “professional” history, but it is every bit as rich. The X-Games producers/announcers will have you believe that they are credible, but they can only tell you about the Babe Ruths of Skateboarding (i.e. Hawk, Way, Lasek, et al). It’s almost as if ESPN really believes skateboarding started in 1995.

I may have missed it, but I’ve never heard any of the announcers refer to Hensley or Craig Johnson or Salba or any other old-school ripper. Consequently, an entire facet of Skateboarding--i.e. the sport’s progression—is completely lost on viewers, as is the appreciation for today’s competitors.

Street Skate Competitors Don’t Push Themselves:

This dooms the X-Games. The scoring format is set up in such a way that conservative riding is rewarded. Why should the Pros push themselves? They are penalized for it--which ruins the X-Games for everyone.

Get the course right. Make it dangerous. Trust me, you won't scare off the best pros. Drop the technicalities. The sickest, most dangerous tricks are rewarded. Boring, conservative riding is punished.

Skateboarding is all about taking risks--we're adrenaline junkies. Wonder why the best aren't competing? Because they aren't being rewarded for the thing they love to do most: TAKE RISKS. 

Ryan Sheckler (and others):

Ryan is not at all the reason why the X-Games suck. I put his picture up there because he is overly talented--but still manages to be the Face of Fail. I have watched him turn from a junior high shredder into a pussy-whipped tomato can. He's not pushing himself. He's trying to do the most consistent tricks, tricks he's dialed, so he can win a gold medal, so he can get sponsors, so he can make more money, so he can buy more poontang. He is the symptom of the problem, but you can't blame him for following the rules.

The games and the participants are BORING and lack credibility to people that actually take skateboarding seriously. It’s a ball-fest for teenie-boppers. It’s a money grab. And it’s lame.

The Street Skating competition could be a phenomenon if ESPN  did it right. Just ask the 95% of the best Pro skaters that have zero interest in participating. And the real skaters who mock it.

When you spend as much time at skate parks as I do, especially ones filled with more little kids than skilled skaters, you get used to answering the same questions over and over again.

The first frequently asked question that I want to address is "can you do this trick?" When skating was at its hottest, this was the most frequently asked question by far; since all the little grommets knew what the tricks were called but couldn’t perform them. 

My response to this question used to be either, “I’m not here for your entertainment” or “I’ll do it for a dollar,” depending on how I felt that day.

During one of my recent sessions at the Salem Skatepark, I was posed this question again. “Can you do a porn star to royal grind?” asked a young kid just sitting on the quarter pipe. I told him I could, and that it’s called a "Royale." Obviously he wanted to see it. I asked him “what will you give me?” His response made me laugh. “Respect," he said bluntly.

Since the combo is one I can do, I told him that respect was enough for me and I threw the tricks with some ease. He didn’t respond at first, then he said “Can you 180 the spine?” I could see that he wasn’t easily impressed so I decided to one up him.

I went to the spine and tossed a quick 180-Mute over it. “Nice, nice,” he said, but I told him that I wasn’t done yet. I dropped back in and hucked a 360-Lui Kang over it this time, stalled on the quarter-pipe and then finished with a 540 back to the other side.

The kid was pretty stunned. “Respect,” he said, “much respect, that was sick.” I thanked him and went back to my session. It was one of those moments that remind me why I love skating, and one that I had almost forgotten was possible.

I hope you get to have experiences like this when you’re out rolling and progressing the art. If you have, please share them with me here. I would like to tell your stories on Skate Sessions, showing the world what our life is all about.

The Ryan Brennan Memorial Skatepark in Salem, dedicated to my cousin who passed away after a rollerblading accident, is my home park. This wasn’t the first skate park I rolled, but is definitely the one that I roll most often.

During my teens, and into my early twenties, I would spend up to eight hours a day here; this is where all the local booters session. It was great to know that if I went to Salem there would always be someone skating there. This park became the starting point for all of our crews sessions, no matter where we were going to skate that day.

The park, which is concrete with round copings, isn’t as large as most of the other concrete parks in the area, like Gloucester or Manchester, but it has possibly the best flow.

I’d recommend this park to any skaters out there who can get to the North Shore. It has a lot to choose from, and the round copings make it very booter friendly. If you do stop by, I’ll be the kid in the Mindgame-tee and White/Black USD Realms.

See you there.

Since I started skating again, I've been searching for new and exciting spots to skate that I will feature in upcoming "Recon Missions" posts.

I have also been returning to spots that I skated back-in-the-day to get reacquainted with them. This is one of those stories.

When I was in Boston a month ago, I decided to session at "The Heavens," a raised courtyard downtown with loads of pristine marble ledges and banks. I skated there once years ago, and I figured I could find my way back.

After driving around the Public Gardens—twice—through the West End, and finally all the way down Commonwealth Ave., I was about to give up.

But on my way back to the North End, where I work at a hockey rink, I spotted a group of skateboarders in a courtyard at Copley Square on Boylston Street.

The courtyard, it turns out, is actually an empty fountain with one long, waxed stone ledge that skateboarders session during the colder months (the fountain is active during warmer temperatures).

I was stoked to find this new spot, as one local boarder informed me that "The Heavens" was torn down not too long ago.

I may have failed in my original mission, since it was doomed from the start, but I was glad to find a new spot. I've even had a few sweet sessions there with my newfound friends.

Not surprisingly, I am always the only booter at any of these sessions. I have been well accepted, though, and I've even checked out another spot close by.

This spot is outside the Back Bay T Station. There's a long, smooth marble bench to grind and a small three-set to launch off. It's a more board-friendly spot but is still fun to mess around on.

I hope you enjoy these spots as much as I do, and word to the wise: If you park on Boylston be sure to mind the time on your parking meter! The meter maids downtown are vultures and will ticket you the second your time expires.

I have the $25 ticket to prove it.

The 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards are cashed, but there was far too much information consumed over the last few days to have gotten it all down before the climactic ceremonies.

Consequently, there will be several more stories trickling out of my laptop regarding the subject.

Since I've got 12 hours to kill in the Abu Dhabi International Airport before the one flight a day to Frankfurt departs (conveniently timed for 1:50 in the morning) and it's kind enough to offer free, lightning-quick Internet, I figured now's as good a time as any to relate one of the highlights of the trip.

On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to chat with skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, skateboard by his side. A telling bit of trivia considering the context was the inexplicably luxurious Emirates Palace hotel; i.e., if Tony Hawk were ever to be sans board, you'd imagine a seven-star hotel in the United Arab Emirates would be one of those times.

Nope.

The interview was a high point not because he's a particular hero of mine or because of any personal "I want to be this guy" reverence from my youth.

I clocked in at 6'2" and 160 pounds as a freshman in high school; my baseball coach once told me not to stand sideways at shortstop because he wouldn't see me. Yep, beanpole would be an apt description of me all the way back to elementary school (sadly, it no longer applies).

And not too many beanpoles have the necessary balance and agility to hop safely on a deck.

This is not speculation—this is experience talking.

So it was baseball, basketball, and a little soccer for me while more graceful practitioners navigated the world of loose trucks and kick flips (those are still appropriate terminologies, right?).

Nevertheless, I've always been keenly aware of Hawk.

Growing up in Northern California, more than a couple of my buddies actually were skaters and even more fancied themselves as such.

Additionally, one of my closest friends is an avid surfer and—let's face it—if it involves adrenaline, a board, and pulls chicks, it's close enough for government work.

Then there are Hawk's ubiquitous video games. I even gave those a try to about the same glorious success as the real thing, but with less blood.

More so than all of that, however, has been the evolution of his craft.

To put it in the words of the man, himself: “I can’t even say it’s a dream come true because I couldn’t have dreamed this...I didn’t ever dream of it.”

The quote from the San Diego native captures precisely what makes him so fascinating.

The dude has almost single-handedly taken an entire sport from the dark corner of counterculture obscurity and brought it into the popular light of the world. What's more, my man is only 41 years old.

In other words, the grand pooh bah has done it all in less than 30 years; he started riding at eight so we'll allow a small period for the learning curve. No wonder he never contemplated this reality; it would be an utterly laughable proposition had it not already happened.

If you doubt that this version of thrashing has gone global never to return, I offer a question posed by one of my American colleagues, Alan Abrahamson (it was actually his interview with Tony that I ducked in on so I owe him a big "thank you").

Alan is a decorated veteran of Olympic coverage and he brought up the subject of skating in the Summer Games. Understand, this wasn't some far-fetched hypothetical; that's not how Abrahamson works as far as I can tell.

This was a sincere question put to the Godfather of the sport.

Ever the pragmatist, Hawk conceded that it probably wouldn't happen until the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the earliest.

But he was also quick to point out why it almost certainly will happen: "The Summer Olympics need skateboarding a lot more than skateboarding needs the Summer Olympics."

Brutal and absolutely true.

Hawk emphasized his point using snowboarding in the Winter Games as an example. The skate/surfing hybrid on snow has injected a modern sizzle to the event and it's no stretch to imagine the skateboard having a similar effect in the warmer months.

Can't really argue with that logic, which makes the inevitability surreal.

Who would've thought the "hobby" with an antisocial tint from my high school days could one day be in the discussion for that hallowed institution, the Olympic Games.

Again, if you put that possibility to the back-parking-lot grinders from my high school days, you'd've been uncharitably chased from the premises like the square you must be.

Under a hail of goth profanity and, possibly, lit cigarettes. You might even get a couple whips from the wallet-chain for good measure.

I mentioned this to the father of four (in not so many words).

“I liked that it set me apart, but I also wondered why more people weren’t into it.”

Well, skateboarding's foremost ambassador can stop wondering.

Millions upon millions have followed his lead and more are joining the ranks every day.

Yet he need have no fear because, no matter how many emulate him, Tony Hawk will always stand apart.

**www.pva.org**

Day three of X-Games 15 was a hectic one. Over six hours of coverage took place and I tried to keep with both ESPN and ABC while having one heck of a busy day myself.

BMX and Skateboard superparks went down, as well as Moto X freestyle and the highly anticipated skateboard and BMX vert finals.

So many memories resurfaced from my head yesterday. Those vert finals gave produced some of the greatest match ups in Matt Hoffman and Dave Mirra, Bucky Lasek vs. Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist vs. Tony Hawk, and so on.

So many epic moves were achieved in this competition. The moments were all bittersweet as last year's Moto X freestyle gold medalist Jeremy Lust passed away following a fatal fall during a competition.

There was a short dedication video to the late Moto X star and the entire competition was dedicated to him. His wife and father were in attendance to honor their son and husband and lend support to the exciting and sometimes fatal Moto X freestyle.

It was four men, three runs, best two runs are counted, and only one gold medalist.

Chris Adams vs Blake "My 360 Indian air didn't win gold" Williams was the match up that caught my eye. I knew one of these two men were going to win and I was correct. It went down to the wire on the final runs.

Adams had a bad run he hoped to replace, but only received a 36 when he needed above a 40 for the gold.

Blake Williams got his redemption last night. He was robbed of the gold medal in Moto X's best trick as the judges gave the honor to Kyle Loza and his electric doom...again.

Blake was clearly determined and would not be denied as he once again pulled off his Indian air without the no hand landing. He followed up with another great run, which was enough for a comeback and steal the gold.

I caught glimpses of the superparks and the BMX one was great. There were double tailwhips, front flips, and even 720s.

The show stealer came around at the BMX vert final, the same event where Dave Mirra won gold after sustaining a concussion in BMX superpark.

Jamie Bestwick was the man to beat last night and he came to town without holding anything back. Every competitor gets three runs with a possible max score of 50 in each run, Bestwick tallied up two scores of 49.

Chad Kagy was on his tail trying to catch him and seemed to have caught his break when Bestwick went down during his final run. His bike was clipped on the top of the ramp and he fell down into the halfpipe with his shoulder taking the massive impact.

After a couple of minutes he was helped to the back and was done for the afternoon. Kagy approached his last run needing practically a perfect run to defeat Bestwick for the gold and failed.

It was similar to Mirra's miracle win, but Bestwick not returning was a difference. Just when you thought the competition couldn't get anymore fierce it did. Pierre Luc Gagnon, Buckey Lasek, and Andy Macdonald all threw down in a memorable skate vert final.

Ten years ago, Tony Hawk pulled off the first 900 ever and won the gold in his event, it's a feat that will probably never be forgotten. The only thing that was missing from the final was Bob Burnquist, who was eliminated in the qualifying rounds.

Macdonald clearly wasn't the favorite as everyone including Tony Hawk believed that the vert gold would go to Bucky Lasek or PLG. For a moment, it appeared as if everyone was going to eat their own words after Macdonald put down multiple solid runs, one with a 540 and he sat in the lead.

PLG's frustration had finally reached its climax after bailing on two runs. He turned it up and so did Lasek, Andy Macdonald was suddenly fighting for a bronze medal.

After some great melons, 540s, handplants, and varial leins, both Lasek and Gagnon were tied at 91 a piece going into their final runs.

Macdonald dished out on last great run that had many wondering if he was going to sneak his way back into gold medal contention. Unfortunately, he he finished with an 88 overall and the bronze medal.

PLG's last run pushed his overall score up by two to final score of 93 and all eyes were on Lasek, it was all or nothing. He ripped the halfpipe, but sealed his fate after attempting what looked like some sort of 540 varial lein and fell to the defending champion PLG.

Gagnon celebrated another well-deserved gold medal.

I gave major props to Andy Macdonald, the guy is a warrior. Out of everyone at X-Games 15 he probably had the most hectic schedule. He took part in Big air skateboard, Big air rail jam, skateboard vert, and skateboard superpark while celebrating his 36th birthday.

He was able to bring him silver and bronze medals though he was very close to tasting gold a couple of times. He took home the silver in skateboard superpark today, only being outshined by defending champion Rune Glifberg.

This year's X-Games was an interesting one indeed as almost every single defending champion successfully defended their gold with two 3-peats (Moto X best trick- Klye Loza, BMX vert- Jamie Bestwick).

Even in the midst of highway robbery, redemption was manifested through stunning victories and suprising victories. Nyjah Houston, the 14-year-old skateboard street pro, took his first medal in skateboard street, winning a silver medal.

Paul Rodriguez vs. Ryan Sheckler was looking to be epic until Sheckler injured himself and lost his gold to P-Rod. Rally racing closed the four day event from the Home Depot center.

Rally favorite Dave Mirra was eliminated in the qualifying rounds in an upset against the rookie Brian Deegan, who made it all the way to the final and faced off against Travis Pastrana.

Pastrana appeared to have Deegan beat until he hit two walls followed by car problems resulting in another upset. The rookie was stoked as he captured gold in his first X-Games and defeated two action sports legends to do so.

The sun is once again setting in California over the Staples and Home Depot centers where the last four days were taken to the extreme and we'll have new memories to converse about until X-Games, summer's biggest fiesta rolls around again next year.

Al's X-Games 15 Most Notable Achievements/Moments

• Jake Brown nearly lands 900 and finally defeats Bob Burnquist after losing to him the previous two years to earn first X-Games gold medal (Big air skateboard)
• Anthony Napolitan pulls off the first BMX double front flip across 70-foot gap (Big air BMX)
• Kevin Robinson makes epic comeback run to win gold medal with a bacl flip and huge 20-foot no handed flair (Big air BMX)
• Danny Way wins gold medal despite sprained ankle, torn ligaments and possible torn ACL with a switch 50-50 grind (Big air rail jam)
• Travis Pastrana attempts 720 corkscrew (Moto X best trick)
• Kyle Loza defends gold and pulls of a 3-peat (Moto X best trick) 
• Blake Williams successfully executes a 360 Indian air with no hand landing (Moto X best trick)
• Jamie Bestwick nearly earns two perfect scores with a pair of 49 points (50 is perfect) and successfully defends gold and achieves a 3-peat (BMX vert)
• Rune Glifberg successfully defends gold (Skateboard superpark)
• Blake Williams wins gold medal after a huge 360 Indian air and comeback run (Moto X Freestyle)
• Paul Rodriquez lands hardflip down flight of stairs, fights off Nyjah Huston, and dethrones Ryan Sheckler to win gold medal (Skate street)
• 14 year old Nyjah Huston wins first X-Games medal (silver) (Skate street)
• PLG survives and successfully defends gold medal after defeating Andy McDonald, Bob Burnquist, and Bucky Lasek by two points. (Skateboard vert)
• Rookie Brian Deggan defeats Moto X legend Travis Pastrana and BMX legend Dave Mirra in two huge upsets to win gold medal (Rally racing)
• After 15 years and many jaw dropping moments, my all time X-Games moment is still Tony Hawk's 900 in 1999.

Day two of the 15th anniversary of the X-Games had to follow up a remarkable day one. Big air skateboard was taken to new heights as 720's were attempted over 70 foot gaps and the magnificent but highly tricky 900 was also attempted on the mega ramp.

Bob Burnquist had everything to lose as the two-time defending champ looking for an epic three-peat, which only big air pioneer and legend Danny Way has accomplished (2004-2006). Way was scheduled to compete, but he injured himself while practicing for the new contest, big air rail jam.

He clipped his knee and had to pop it back in.

Way stated he was icing it and tending to it diligently hoping to make the big air rail jam on day two. Jake Brown has competed in over 10 straight X-Games and had yet to earn a gold medal.

Brown had a dark cloud over him as he had lost to Bob Burnquist two years in a row (2007-2008), one of which included probably the nastiest fall in X-Games history and produced a SportsCenter center classic highlight that is still shown two years later.

Brown put it all on the line. He attempted to pull off the 900, the move made famous by Tony Hawk in 1999 at the X-Games. A handful have pulled off the 900 after Hawk did, but none have ever even thought of trying to nail the bad boy on the mega ramp.

Despite having the scariest fall in his life Brown went for it twice, but failed both times. He and Burnquist were tied for last place coming into the fifth and final run. Brown captured the gold after Burnquist fell trying to cross the gap with a japan air with a sort of judo twist to it.

Way missed his event and many were doubtful he would even be ready to compete in day two's Big air rail jam. The man who was on crutches would not be denied and geared up and showed up for the new event. The rail jam is the same as the skateboard big air, except the addition of a curved rail over the gap.

The skater's score isn't focused on the tricks pulled across the gap and on the mega ramp, but it's solely based on the tricks done on and across the rail. It was highly dangerous as one's testicles were a mistake away from being lost.

Danny Way clearly wasn't 100 percent, but that didn't stop him from chasing the gold. Way has had 13 surgeries, and eight of them were on his knee. Way looked ready to call it night after numerous bails, holding his knee after every fall. With the odds against him, Danny found a way and won the gold at the first big air rail jam with a switch 50-50 grind across the curved red rail.

Andy McDonald failed to win a medal on his 36th birthday. Maybe Brown and Way's determination was too much to be denied the gold medals. Way is a true warrior in my books.

There were talks of torn ligaments, torn ACL, broken ankles amongst other injuries and the man Danny Way did it.

The Moto X best trick was another anticipated event with a stacked core of competitors including the returning Travis Pastrana and the two-time champ going for the three-peat, Klye Loza. New trick rumors surrounded this event, especially Pastrana's 720 Corkscrew.

I know he loves what he does and he loves his mother, but why does he put her through these heart-stopping moments with these stunts?

Pastrana's double back flip was only three years old and he was at it again. Speaking of double back flip, Scott Murray also returned to Moto X best trick this year to do the double back flip! Again!

Please note the sarcasm there.

The Moto X best trick was always something to look forward to, but many weren't satisfied with this year's best trick. Loza retains the gold and earned the three-peat with the same move he won with last year, the electric doom.

I was very confused with the judge scoring all night, most notably in the BMX big air competition. Anthony Napolitan pulled off a double front flip for the first time ever in BMX big air across the 70-foot gap. He did it again the following run. Kevin Robinson won the gold for the event with a big no-handed back flip followed by a big no handed flair on the mega ramp.

K-Rob earned that medal, but how didn't...why didn't Napolitan get a medal? He finished in fifth place, and I was stunned. In the Moto X best trick, the same thing happened again. The event went from promising to bizarre.

Pastrana had everyone praying for his well-being when he went for another dangerous stunt. He was fully prepared for the 720 corkscrew to say the least. Pastrana hired an Olympic gymnastic to help train him to better use his body muscles as he was going to properly use multiple muscles and strength to pull off a 720 on a motorbike.

Everyone awaited history, but number 199 failed.

It was a difficult trick, and would have been fantastic to have seen it nailed. Pastrana opted to not take his second run. Just like Napolitan, we witnessed another highway robbery.

Blake Williams pulled off a sight to see. He performed a 360 Indian air with a cliffhanger and followed up with a no handed landing, and didn't win the gold.

WHAT?!

Then there was a guy who wasted both of his runs not doing any trick at all on both of them. I don't know if he got cold feet, but it's the X-Games, not some local town competition, go hard or go home. I wouldn't be surprised if SportsCenter rips this guy.

Lastly, there's Scott Murray. Three years were wasted on this guy, someone out there could have been the next big Moto X star. Three years in a row, he failed to do the double backflip, a move that Pastrana pulled off three years ago and now does for warm ups.

This reminds me of the NBA All star dunk contest that Nate Robinson won after he tried the same dunk about thirty times. Murray just can't do the back flip and needs to be replaced with a better biker, plain and simple.

Murray shook his head after wasting six runs in three years. Loza might have had a new trick, bu his wrist was bugging him, so he played it safe. We're only half way there, days three and four remain in X-Games 15.

Asia served as the proving ground for an epic battle in skateboarding both in street and vert between Americans and Brazilians. Shanghai, China hosted this year's X-Games Asia about a week ago. American skateboarder and fan favorite Andy McDonald gave a solid effort, but it only earned him 10th place in skateboard street.

Fabios Santos came close, but earned second place to America's Austin Seaholm. The battle also spilled across on skateboard vert where Andy McDonald brought the competition.

McDonald skated his way to a gold medal and first place in skate vert. McDonald dominates and used his last run as a victory run. He performed a rocket backflip amongst other stellar moves. McDonald won the gold in Asia, but can he do it in Los Angeles this summer. Below is McDonald's victory run after Adam Taylor fails.

The atmosphere was electric and some excitement was left from the 2008 Olympics in China. It was a great weekend for action sports. BMX and Inline skating also featured huge showdowns.

The BMX events were pretty solid despite BMX legend Dave Mirra, but it's not all about the man they dubbed miracle boy right? Spain's Sergio Layos rode his bike all the way to second place with a final score of 92, just falling a couple of points short of USA's Garrett Reynolds, who won first place and the gold medal with a 94.33 on BMX street.

Reynolds will be riding on his momentum to the X-Games 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The question is will he compete in BMX Superpark? The story was different in BMX vert, USAs highest final ranking was fourth place, in which Austin Coleman finished.

Austrailia's Tim Wood took home the honors this year with a total score of 93.33 with Simon Tabron behind him with 91.67. Victory runs weren't too rare as Takeshi Yasutoko took home the gold in Inline skating vert. His victory run can also be seen below. Epic battles have already taken place. With the Asia X-Games done and over with many questions remain.

Will there be an X-Games Mexico despite the Swine Flu?

Can the X-Games Asia winners build on their momentum in X-Games 2009?

Will those who fell short look for redemption?

Summer isn't officially here yet and action sports are already raising the bar. Speaking of bars, look out for Danny Way and the Big Air competition at X-Games 2009 as well as Moto X step up.