Bestwick said. “But why should it be up to me all the time? I want to be challenged by other riders and that has been quite a task for people to achieve. But here we are at X Games 17; everybody stepped up and gave me a run for my money. So I had to put my riding to another level."
“BMX Vert is all about everyone throwing down until the end and here we are with a five-peat and I cemented my name in history."
His score total of 92.00 narrowly beat out McCann, whose score of 90.00 included a no-handed 900.
“I am feeling amazing," McCann said. "This X Games, I can't even explain it. I did everything that I wanted to do. I can't wait to come back here next year and do it all again."
McCann’s fellow countryman Vince Byron, who wowed the crowd with a 540 double tail whip, grabbed the bronze with a score total of 79.00.
Vert results X-Games 2011:
1. Jamie Bestwick 1 State College, Pa. 92.00
2. Steve McCann 5 Melbourne, Australia 90.00
3. Vince Byron 2 Brisbane, Australia 79.00
4. Simon Tabron 7 Carlsbad, Calif. 69.00
5. Jimmy Walker 8 Ocala, Fla. 60.00
Vert competitions have become a favorite of actions sports fans who revel in seeing riders soar several feet above the top of the halfpipe, which is referred to as the "deck." The halfpipe for X Games 17 is 60 feet wide with 11.5-foot transitions and two feet of vert. The riders work the ramp from wall to wall combining technical big airs and lip tricks. Heats consist of high-energy 12-minute jams. Competitors are judged based on aggressive execution of maneuvers, degree of difficulty, variety, continuity of run, originality and style, amplitude (height of airs) and use of the ramp.