X Games 2012 Review!
In the youngest ever X Games field ever there was plenty of talking points during this year’s event and this time it was all a numbers game… Whether it be 12 year old newbies shaking it up with the big boys, 900 degree rotations, or even if its crashing out on lap number 1, it was all here this year.
Day 1
A quiet first day as always at the X games, mostly used as a day for all the big guns to qualify in consummate ease as per usual… that’s what I should be typing if it wasn’t for poor Mr Travis Pastrana’s bad luck and misfortunes. The Rally cross event this year had been hyped belong belief, with X games legend and crowd favourite Travis Pastrana managing to convince the best rally driver on earth, Sebastian Loeb to challenge him in his speciality event this year, one which Loeb gladly took on. But this eagerly anticipated battle was ruined by rookie Andy Scott from Scotland who misjudged the opening corner terribly and rammed Travis into the wall, thus ruling Travis out for the rest of the series as he was unable to qualify. Despite his many efforts to try and somehow get back on the track, it was no good, to all of his fans dismay. But the one final on the first day (Moto X freestyle final) was emphatically won by the Japanese Taka Higashino with an emphatic first round run that scored a 93.33 to clinch the Gold.
Day 2
Where the games really start to pick up! 5 big finals, 2 stars are born, 1 new trick created and 1 record broken. The 2 stars will not need this introduction in the years to come, as youngsters Mitchie Brusco (15) and Tom Scharr (12) both made it to the Skateboarding Big Air final finishing 2nd and 6th respectively, brilliant results for these two young bucks! It’s great to see the new generation of skaters busting through and picking up medal’s so early! Unfortunately Mitchie was just pipped to the Gold by old time skate legend Bob Burnquist. Alexis Sablone grabbed gold in the Women’s street skate comp. the incredibly talented Garret Reynolds rocked it in the BMX freestyle final with his trademark fluent style. Jackson Strong ripped his new move The Bulletproof Tiger in the Moto X Best trick comp to narrowly overcome the exciting Taka Higashino, made all the more special when he dedicated the trick and the performance to one of his dearest friends who is in a coma. And finally the lovable Ronnie Renner trashed the Moto X long jump record to clinch gold in the Moto X Step Up contest with a jaw dropping 47ft jump.
Day 3
The busiest day of the X games! 7 Finals, 1 ridiculous car stunt and a 17 year old Gold medallist, the BMX Freestyle Park event was snatched by Scotty Cranmer to prove he’s back at the top of the game, Ryan Decenzo was top of the Game of SK8 pile, that only had 4 participants. The one sided BMX freestyle Vert event was well and truly bossed by the best BMX’er on the planet Jamie Bestwick, winning by a stunning 14 points in a gnarly performance. Moto X’s golden girl Vicki Golden easily took home the Gold in the Moto X Womens race event ahead of Puerto Rican rider Tarah Gieger, who looks well on her way to becoming a big player once again. Mike Mason pulled off the upset of the day, upstaging the rampant Nate Adams in the final after Adams had completely bossed the quarter and semi finals, a great comeback from the Arizona man, but it was Mike’s night! And skating’s newest young stars were back in action in the Men’s Skateboard Vert comp, unfortunately not achieving any noticeable placings this time, but a 6th and 9th place respectively for Tom Scharr and Mitchie Brusco still aint bad for two school kids, the event was won by the sick Pierre-Luc Gangon who carded a 91.00 and beat the wily old vet Bucky Lasek by the narrowest of margins to take home the Vert title… and just incase you haven’t heard/seen it yet, hears two guys doing a 66 ft loop in cars... as you do. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8116624
Day 4
Sunday’s grand finale was a fitting end to an X Games chock full of new talent and excitement with the final 5 events, 1 skate star missing out on his 1st X Games medal yet again and a 40 year old favourite rolling back the years. The star studded Men’s Street Skateboard final was eventually won by Paul Rodriguez over global star Ryan Sheckler and pin up Nyjah Houston in a hotly contested final where poor Chaz Ortiz missed out on his first X Games medal yet again, finishing an agonising 4th… again. Rally king Sebastian Loeb romped home in the Rally Cross final, in what should have been a blockbuster event if it wasn’t for Travis Pastrana’s unfortunate exit and credit must go to 2nd placed Ken Block who despite having only one back tyre for a large portion of the race, still brought home Silver! Steve McCann and Zack Warden put on a epic battle in the BMX Freestyle Big Air contest, with Steve McCann marginally coming ahead of Zack Warden. The inspirational Maria Forsberg who works as a full time Electrician snatched the Moto X Enduro X Women’s event from the precocious Louise Forsley. And finally Moto X genius and icon Mike Brown took home the Gold in the Moto X Enduro X Men’s event in a flawless performance that gave nobody else a hope!
