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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 

22-year-old Daniel Dhers was in top form at the BMX Freestyle Park Final today, posting a 90.66 in his first run, then a winning mark of 91.66 in his second. He held off stiff competition from reigning Freestyle Park champ Scotty Cranmer, as well as from the most decorated athlete in X Games history, Dave Mirra, to take home the gold. In only his second X Games appearance - he won bronze at last year's BMX Park event - Dhers was beyond consistent, hitting tricks like a no-footed can to whip air, a triple whip, and a double whip. He also stuck a 360° flip with a tail whip, which wowed the judges and put him over the top.

 "I started watching X Games in '98. It was always a dream just to come here," Dhers said. "Last year I came on the scene and won Dew Tour, Boost Mobile - pretty much everything I was in - and at the end of the year somebody said, 'Oh, you did everything but X Games.' That was my goal for this year. Now I've got it all."

Among other tricks, last year's gold medalist Cranmer landed a triple whip and a double tail whip 360. 

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:

LOS ANGELES - Aussie Steve McCann and two other BMX riders, Anthony Napolitan and Mat Hoffman, will square off with last year's top finishers in the BMX Freestyle Big Air Final this evening. Day two of ESPN X Games 13 began at STAPLES Center with a rowdy selection session that ended with McCann on top. His turndown backflip sent him soaring 14'8" off the quarterpipe, and it was good enough for make him the top qualifier. Kevin Robinson and Allan Cooke were the top two finishers at last year's BMX Freestyle Big Air event. Morgan Wade, who finished in fourth place, replaces the injured Chad Kagy.

"I'm treating this ramp with respect," McCann said. "This jump is awesome and very serious, and I have to give it for all these guys I'm riding with. I can't wait for tonight."

The BMX Freestyle Big Air Final begins at 5:00 p.m. PT at STAPLES Center.

And of course Tobias Wicke had some questions as well for Ben Hennon...

Tobias Wicke: What do you mean when you say "I wunnu go nuts un thu munurump"?
- Ha ha, it means that it's on so watch out German

Wicke: What comes next after Bmx for you?
- I am really excited to start a business with my trade.

Wicke: Does your lady know that your jumping the spine 30ft without a breathmachine?
- She loves it , she thinks it's awesome how high I can go.

Wicke: Is there something you can't stand at all?
- People who are rude. It is the one thing I hate 

X Games are back, and they're greener than ever. X Games 13, to be held in Los Angeles, August 2-5, 2007, will feature an enhanced Environmentality program that aims to reduce waste and preserve natural resources through the use of sustainable materials, an extensive recycling and compost program, incentives for fans who rideshare to the events and multiple interactive initiatives for spectators and staff. 

Started to include and infuse various ideas, with a goal to try and make a mark [however small] on what was felt a stale and stagnent store shelf or wardrobe space. Segment is aimed at anything and anyone on 2 wheels - BMX, MTB, Moto X or turntables, hopefully bringing all the coliding worlds together. As an active bmx rider and dj for many a year, I felt it was about time to bring all families together, and offer a brand that wouldnt feel out of place behind the decks, on the track/park or simply on the street.

If you guys want to know how close Eastpak riders Tobias Wicke and Ben Hennon are to each other, take a peek and be ready for this rider-to-rider interview.

Ben: Hi Tobi. Name, age, home town and reason for being German.
- Tobias Wicke, 25 years old, from Berlin, Marzahn - Germany all the way

Ben: Do you think that I suck?
- No Ben, it´s not that bad, hahaha - don't be afraid, you´re a cool guy

Ben: How many pair of shoes do you have?

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.