Since its debut at last year’s X Games, a number of skateboarding’s top stars have embraced the concept. And while Way remains the man to beat, the gap between him and the rest of the field has closed considerably in just one calendar year.
Not enough to wrestle away the gold from Way, however. It was Way (San Diego, Calif.) who stuck a Frontside 360 off the 70-foot jump and followed it up with a Christ Air for a score of 94.75 to earn his second gold in as many years.
Way gained worldwide attention a month ago when he became the first person to jump the Great Wall of China using non-motorized power. During that jump he suffered an avulsion fracture to his right ankle, which hampered his preparation for X Games. But it took just one jump for the Big Air pioneer to snatch the top spot.
“I just wanted to pad up and skate for at least one run,” Way said. “And I nailed it.”
Pierre-Luc Gagnon (Carlsbad, Calif.) looks as if he’s going to be Way’s biggest threat in the future after sticking tough tricks on two of his five runs for a top score of 94.00. It marked the fourth time he walked away from X Games with two medals (He also won gold in Skateboard Vert).
“I medaled in each of my events so I couldn’t ask for more,” said Gagnon, whose top score came on a Half Mute Air. “I was really happy. All I wanted to do was make the 70-footer.”
Andy Macdonald (San Diego, Calif.) had three completed runs that were scored above 90.00 with a top score of 92.75 for the bronze position with a Backside 3 to Airwalk on the quarterpipe.
“I know Danny is used to competing in pain,” said Macdonald of the competing against the legendary gold medal winner. “Not to mention the dude just jumped the Great Wall of China.”
Bucky Lasek (Baltimore, Md.) and Rob Lorifice (Encinitias, Calif.) each landed a trick on their second run for their top scores, while Bob Burnquist (Sao Paulo, Brazil) finished in sixth.
ESPN X Games is the definitive annual action sports competition featuring more than 150 of the world’s best athletes competing in: BMX Freestyle, Moto X, Skateboard, Surfing and Wakeboard. X Games 11 is being held August 4-7 in Los Angeles and airing live on ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes. Its venues include STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center (Carson, Calif.), Long Beach Marine Stadium for Wakeboard and Puerto Escondido, Mexico for Surfing. All competitions at STAPLES Center and The Home Depot Center are ticketed events, which can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. X Games will remain in Los Angeles through 2009.
