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Some of the top BMX trick riders in the world put on a spectacular display today at the BMX Freestyle Vert competition, part of ESPN X Games 13. Brit Jamie Bestwick's eye-popping first run scored a 93.66, and despite intense competition from Simon Tabron and others that number held throughout the second round and Bestwick walked with the gold. Bestwick's first run was a high-energy group of complex tricks, including an opposite flair and a one-footed opposite double flair. But the big moment came when he did a regular whip, then went straight into an opposite double tail whip - which has never been landed in competition before.

"I love being at the X Games. I get great treatment," Bestwick said afterwards. Finishing with this particular combo was something he's wanted to do for a while, he said, adding, "Everybody was just riding so well - how could you not get inspired with all the great athletes out here?"

Tabron, meanwhile, busted a precedent of his own: he hit two 

The BMX Freestyle Big Air Final at X Games 13 on Thursday was a barn-burner, and veteran rider Kevin Robinson was the one who came out on fire. Making his 12th X Games appearance - he competed in the very first X Games in 1995, and has only missed one year since - Robinson squared off against a field comprised of mostly young bucks at STAPLES Center, and emerged victorious. After reaching verts of 18' and 20' on earlier runs, Robinson landed the winning trick on his fourth run: a no-handed backflip over the gap, followed by a flair that sent him soaring 18' above the quarterpipe. The judges gave him a 95.33, which held through the last round and granted Robinson his second BMX Freestyle Big Air gold medal in as many years.

"I'm so happy to be here at this event. I really care about it a lot," the East Providence, RI native said afterwards. "I've been at the X Games since the beginning. It's been really great to see the events grow, and to grow with them."

The final round of the World Flatland league is taking place in Amsterdam this weekend. Flatground 2007 saw the following 13 pro riders move on to Sunday's finals:
1 Matthias Dandois
2 Shintaro Misawa
3 Hirokazu Miura
4 Cory Fester
5 Waldemar Fatkin
6 Justin Miller
7 Terry Adams
8 Keisuke Matsumoto
9 Matt Wilhelm
10 Michael Steingraber
11 Sam Foakes
12 Yoshihiro Shinde
12 Hiroya Morizaki

These riders missed the cut:

The Battle in da Club flatland competition series had its second round in Dresden, Germany. Because of expected rain a roof was built to make sure the contest could go on. The wooden floor was attacked in battle style by the invited flatland riders. Sven Steinbach, Roman Rommel, Stefan Kornely, David Hoffmann, Lasse Suettnig, Alex Guerbig, Steffen Peters and contest organizer Flo Sailer did not survive the first round. Things heated up in heat two. 

It was some nasty weather conditions chief organizer Cay Clauberg and his Team were facing ahead of the second PLAYSTATION® THE CHAMP SERIES 2007 tourstop in Moers. But thanks to the great support of many helping hands more than 1000 excited fans could witness Markus Hampl win the dirt contest and take 1500 € of price money with him. Due to heavy rainfall on Friday Benny Paulsen and his team really had their hands full to save the newly created dirtpark in Moers. Several tons of mud had been moved there, which were now flooded.

The second annual Canadian Concrete series kicked off at the infamous Kirkstone park in North Vancouver. Entries topped last year by a huge number of riders, and the level of riding was absolutely insane. Pro riders Travis Sexsmith and Jason Teet were the show stoppers with 12 foot airs and incredible flips (where they shouldn’t be done). The am class gets better and better, with 13 year olds pulling smooth lines that riders twice their age and experience had trouble comprehending. Masters class? 39 year old Ron Mercer showed that the older riders still have it, but veteran ramp rider, Mel Gooder, completely killed it, with 8 foot high lookbacks and front wheel lip tricks.

Next stop is the world famous Coquitlam park on August 5th, where some of the most amazing riding has gone down and footage has been filmed (Osato’s infamous whip to manual to whip back in for example). The riding will be insane, and as always, the good vibes will be flowing.

Simon Tabron captured his first victory of the season in BMX Vert at the AST Dew Tour’s Right Guard Open at Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor. After multiple wind delays throughout the afternoon, Tabron, a veteran of BMX Vert narrowly edged rookie competitor Steven McCann for the victory with a winning score of 91.67. McCann finished with a score of 90.83, follow by Chad Kagy with a 90.67.

 “I love Cleveland and just wanted to have a good run at this tour event,” said Tabron. “I’m really excited about this victory and looking forward to the tour stop in Portland.”

The next stop of the AST Dew Tour will be in Portland, Ore. from Aug. 16-19 for the Vans Invitational.

AST Dew Tour-Right Guard Open Results North Coast Harbor - Cleveland, Ohio

I started keeping a daily journal way back in 1987 when I was only 15 years old. Back when I was a just a freshman in high school. Since then, every single freakin’ day of my life has been documented in these journals. If it happened in my life, then I wrote it down & documented it. And believe me; I’ve got some stories to tell! Looking back over the years, here is a journal entry that stands out and also my comments looking back now.
Hoffman Contest, SCRAP Skatepark -Chaos November 18th, 1993
Actual Journal Entry
“We went over to the SCRAP skatepark in the afternoon & rode all day. I learned a lot of good stuff. Afterwards, a zillion BMXers went out to some country style bar. Matt Hoffman & Rick Thorne were singing on stage. It was funny! 

Dew Tour BMX Vert Final results:
1st Tabron, Simon 91.67
2nd McCann, Steven 90.83
3rd Kagy, Chad 90.67
4th Robinson, Kevin 89.33
5th Eggleston, Jay 88
6th Zurita, Francisco 88
7th Bestwick, Jamie 87 

Daniel Dhers of Caracas, Venezuela narrowly edged out Ryan Nyquist to win the BMX Park competition. Dhers, last year's Dew Cup champion, finished with a 93.92 score, besting Nyquist’s effort of 93.25. Dhers, 22, donated his $15,000 prize money to the Stephen Murray Recovery Fund to help Murray who suffered a career-ending injury at the Panasonic Open in June. “All weekend I was thinking I have to make money to donate to Stephen, and now I’m glad to be able to say I stepped it up to do that,” said Dhers.

With Dhers winning the first two events of the 2007 season, he leads the AST Dew Tour standings with 200 points followed by Nyquist with 124 points.

The four-day competition is the second of five events of the AST Dew Tour that features skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross. Sunday’s schedule includes Freestyle Motocross and BMX Vert finals.