Janet Matthews

Barrett Christy took her frontside, front flippy, bad-arse self to the top of the podium after sticking her frontside front flip 180 thing in front of some 35,000 freaking fans. Peter Line took top shelf as well with a long, large, inverted corkscrew 720 kinda thing. For them it might have been another X Games win on another big booter in another sun soaked city. For me it was another day of witnessing the continuing evolution of boarding AND skiing. Only a year ago, it was a battle of the frontside 9s for the men and an inversion meant a podium for the women. But today, it's a spin-inverted like a monkey if you want to make the podium baby.

"Only a year ago it was a battle of the frontside 9s for the men and an inversion meant a podium for the women. But today, it's spin inverted like a monkey if you want to make the podium baby..."

Bluebird skies, and a Bay Bridge background with just a hint of seabreeze kept reminding everyone where they were and what time it was. (Hot Fun In The Summertime!:).

"The energy was insane, there was a lot more people making a lot more noise," Barrett Christy said. Peter Line stepped up when the finals started and stuck his first attempt, huge. Many a man tried to throw a trick as far, but to no avail. [check out Barrett's video interview]

Tara Dakides had trouble sticking her 720s only in the finals. She was doing fine in practice, but began bailing when the judges started judging.

"I couldn't pull it together for the finals. I think it should have been a big jam and then pick your favorite rider...just joking," she mused. [check out Tara's video interview]

Tina Dixon kept to her B-side 3 knowing that few were planting their landings. She smartly stuck it for silver. Janet Matthews pulled out her inverted Iron Cross for bronze, but tossed out a font flip for good measure. Tina Basich was absent from the stage, but kicking it in the crowd nursing a wounded knee from a fling last spring.

Ben Hinkley brought out his double front flips for the crowd. They loved it and hissed when he wasn't awarded the highest score, but that's okay...just because they don't know an inverted 720 is more difficult isn't their fault. At least they know what they like. Proving he ain't no one hit wonder, Ben attempted a McRippey with an added 180, but slipped out on the landing. [check out Ben's video interview]

Rippey himself (Jim that is) kept out of competition this summer due to an unwilling knee. Landing was an issue for podium-friendly Kevin Jones. Jason Borgstede similarly slipped out on his finishes. My main man E-Tree (Chris Englesman) knew what he had to do and stuck one for safety's sake to secure some points before time ran out. He touched down lightly on an old 540 that proved vital for bronze today — so many were looking at winning or nothing. Like Mike Beallo...Mike wasn't letting a twwwwwweaked shoulder slow him down; he unwrapped the ice and took to the kicker for the hometown crowd. After a double backflip attempt, Mike ended up in more pain than he started with, but for Mike, that's okay.

The skiers made their presence known on the kicker today and although it was only for exhibition, some were showing the boarders what they taught them. As Shane McConkey put it, "for skiing, it shouldn't be called switch, it's something different." Different it was and Shane attacked the jump backwards, backflipped and landed backwards. Just nutty. He also added a twist and landed forward. Jonny Moseley dropped in with his inverted 720. There was a couple nice lawn darts and a 16-year-old out there keeping up with the Moseleys.

The spectacle ended on the stage where the riders were awarded their booty while kids clawed at their clothing. The summer stoke was contagious and stickers, swag and screams were everywhere to be seen. The only whisper is of the upcoming vert skate finals. Maybe if you're good, we'll toss you a picture of that, too.

— Hans Prosl, stoked on sun poisoning for MountainZone.com

Preview
Thursday, June 23

This year's Big Aerialist won't be dropping into the bay, it's either stick it clean or go watch the skaters and wish you could relate. Most of the riders haven't seen snow recently, and bouncing down the landing doesn't sit well for the judges. This always makes for an interesting practice period.

Look forward to the Herculean battle between Barrett Christy and Tara Dakides. Tara has been steadily storming her way to the top the last couple of seasons and deserves a good win on X to go with her tattoos. The upset could come with a large "seven, two, owwwww" from Tina Basich for her Biiiiiig B-Day a couple days away, but only launch time will tell who's been hitting kickers in the snow that's left and who's been surfing the summer away.

"Upset could come with a large 'seven, two, owwwww' from Tina Basich for her Biiiiiig B-Day a couple days away..."

The boys will be looking to land 900s to one up the perfect front flips Ben Hinkley's so famous for. That's right folks, double fronts. Then again, it could come from the double back that Mike Basich is famous for. All and all it's gonna rock and this ain't no little mogul. This 100 foot structure has to be conquered, launched, stuck and rode away from in order for riders to qualify for the big X here on Saturday.

It's also dependent on who parties like a rock star the night before and who meditates with Jason Borgstede. Anything will be better than the four-way tie that hyped the men's finals to Xtremely stupid proportions last year.

Either way, the dynamic Basich duo, Mr. Jones (Kevin that is) and Mr. McRippey will be reason enough to tune back here to give thanks and praise on this Sabbath.

— Hans Prosl, dreaming about Alcatraz for MountainZone.com