Best Of X Games 15 - Overall Recap, Behind The Scenes, & Best Riding Shots
FatTony
- August 03 2009
- 13,798 views
- 68 comments
X Games 15 is officially in the history books. New tricks were pulled, new and old faces were on the podiums, there were tales of victory and upset, and a bunch of riders went home with big, fat paychecks… This is the best of X Games 15 with a peek behind the scenes, and a look at some of the best riding shots of the contest.
Big Air
Despite what some of the ignorant and negative comments on this site may tell you, X Games is synonymous with progression and the biggest news from X Games 15 was that Anthony Napolitan pulled the world’s first ever double frontflip in competition. He had been doing them (somewhat in secret) on the resi ski jump at Camp Woodward and apparently had them dialed. When it came down to showtime during the Big Air competition, he nailed it on his second attempt over the 70-foot jump. The crowd at the Staples Center thought Anthony should have gotten on the podium, but because of how the contest is scored, Anthony didn’t go home with a medal this year. In Big Air, judges give the riders scores based on an overall run including the jump and the quarter pipe, and since Anthony didn’t go as high as the others or trick the quarter, he didn’t get a very high score. If you want to argue about it, hit up our own Editor In Chief Keith Mulligan as he was one of the judges for Big Air.
A 70-foot jump and a 26-foot-tall quarter pipe is something no BMX rider sessions on a regular basis, so the six riders in the Big Air competition really lay it on the line to put on a show for everyone during X Games. This is the third year that Big Air has been a part of X Games and the third year something insane has gone down in the contest. Some of the comments on this site sounded angry about only one new trick being done in Big Air, but I think one new thing a year is plenty when you are talking about only six riders and a ramp that massive. Kevin Robinson won with no-handed flips over the 70-foot jump and no-handed flairs around the 20-foot mark out of the 26-foot-tall quarter pipe-something he’s done before, but is still just as insane as the first time he did it.
Looking down the roll in of the Mega Ramp for Big Air. Photo by Fat.
Vert
The big story this year in the Vert competition was Jamie Bestwick getting a gold medal for the third year in a row, making him the third BMX rider to ever three-peat at X Games. Dave Mirra won Park three years in a row in the mid-90s, Corey Bohan won gold in Dirt the last three years they had it in X Games, and now Jamie Bestwick has won first place in Vert three years in a row. If he continues on this path and remains healthy, next year he will probably become the first BMX rider to ever win four gold medals in a row. Jamie is on a completely different level than anyone else who has ever ridden a vert ramp.
What else happened in Vert this year? Well, besides Jamie showing up with his own face painted on the top of his helmet, Simon Tabron became the second rider to pull a 900 variation with his one-handed, one-footed nine; second only to Mat Hoffman’s no-handed 900 in 2002 at X Games. Also, at the age of 42 Dennis McCoy pulled a 900 just like he did 15 years ago at the very first X Games-15 years of X Games, and 15 years of DMC being on top of the vert riding game and pulling 900s. Very impressive.
Coco Zurita getting high and twisty. Photo by Fat.
What ESPN didn’t show you, though, is how DMC may have cost Tim Wood a spot in the finals this year. The way the format of Vert works is that there is a 12-minute jam session for five riders. Each rider gets to ride for 30 seconds at a time, so at the end of the 30 seconds the next person has to drop in on their own accord. If you fall, your run is over and you have to get off the ramp so the other riders can continue to ride. On two separate occasions in the contest (once after crashing and once after pulling a run) Dennis wasted time by playing around on the flat bottom of the ramp, eating up valuable time on the clock that Tim Wood would have used to drop a run that could have got him into the finals. And with perfect 900s and lots of 540 variations, Tim could very well have scored well enough to make it to the finals had he given it another full run. Simon Tabron even passed on his run and gave it to Tim because he already had a good enough score to make it to the finals and wanted to see Tim get as fair of a chance as possible. I’m not here to call out a legend in our sport, but if I’m reporting on the contest honestly, I thought the showboating on flat bottom by DMC was in poor taste when so much was on the line, and I would have liked to see Tim Wood get in another full run.
Park
Daniel Dhers won X Games Park the last two years in a row, so he was in contention for being one of the elite riders in the sport to three-peat at X Games this year along with Jamie Bestwick. However, the course just wasn’t very conducive to his riding style, and to everyone’s surprise, Daniel didn’t even break into the top five this year. Judges were looking for high-speed lines and transfers around the park, and even though he had a huge bag of difficult tricks, Daniel just didn’t use the course to its full potential and it cost him. Scotty Cranmer won X Games Park in 2006 and didn’t ride in ‘08 due to an injury, but he came back this year and was on fire. He had the huge tricks like flip double whips and flip turndowns, but he also had wild transfers and gaps that he threw tricks into, which is what helped him get the gold medal once again.
The course got mixed reviews this year. It was the first time anyone has ever made a park that was half wood and half cement. The cement allowed the riders to go faster, and allowed the course designers to get the bowls and bends more precise. Some riders loved it, and some hated it, but even the ones that hated it would have loved it had it been a skatepark in their area and not the biggest contest of the year. The fact of the matter is that X Games is known for huge, crazy tricks and the “contest style” riding that it has helped create over the past 15 years. So some people were bummed that what they have grown to love about X Games was changed up this year due to a completely different style of Park course. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I appreciate the fact that X Games is trying to change things up and is moving in a direction that is more relatable to the majority of riders out there. But at the same time I would have rather seen new, progressive tricks being done on a regular box jump, a spine, and quarter pipes than the same tricks we’ve seen for years being done up step ups and on to fly outs.
Ryan Guettler flairing over a Jersey barrier channel. Photo by Fat.
Street
Garrett Reynolds is to Street what Jamie Bestwick is to Vert. He’s simply on a different level than any other rider out there. This week Garrett won his seventh gold medal in X Games Street. This is only the second time they’ve had Street at a U.S. X Games contest, but he’s won at X Games in China, Dubai, Mexico, and a few other countries, too. After seeing riders like Brian Kachinsky methodically looking down a rail, calculating his every move before he makes it, then seeing Garrett ride, it makes it seem like Garrett is simply playing around the entire time he’s on the course. Everything he does looks completely casual and effortless, and his peers, the fans, and I all absolutely love it.
After a handful of amazing Web videos and winning Best Trick at Simpel Session in Estonia, the committee that selects the riders for X Games invited Ty Morrow to L.A. for his first X Games appearance. It was awesome to see a new rider like Ty do so well at such a huge contest, and with all the struggling “pro” riders out there I can’t help but be stoked for a hardcore, underground street rider when he wins $30,000.
Here is a quick peek behind the scenes at X Games along with a handful of our best riding photos from the week. See you next year!
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August 3rd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Fat, thanks for what you said about the Tim Wood situation. I feel really bad for Tim because he rode his heart out and deserved a place in the final. He’s a great rider and a great human being and it made me sad to see him have to miss out, not because of his riding, but because of the actions of someone else.
Much respect, Tim.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:34 pm
“I would have rather seen new, progressive tricks being done on a regular box jump, a spine, and quarter pipes than the same tricks we’ve seen for years being done up step ups and on to fly outs.”
really? for fuck sake. van homan will save us.
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:35 pm
hey what the f ???? tim wood situation , what situation , didnt make it…. sorry for you, try harder next time. The format is just like that. and for me, watch dmc in the finals is sooooo much better than see a resi tim wood. He has been in the top level of ver riding, so much time of the 80 % of the people how actually read this article, so a little respect , and tim still can compete in the dew tour for some robotic action
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I Agree with “tailwoka”, DMC has been riding for years with pro-level…he’s a showman, a complete rider…
I don’t agree with this kind of comments against him, …the format was 12 minutes for 5 riders , right?…if Tim did’t qualify was because of his run….he just needed a 30 seconds of those 12 minutes to do his best…..I dont say that TIM is a bad rider, but putting excuses isn’t right…….
August 4th, 2009 at 2:03 am
whos to say that tim wasnt saving something, a risk maybe, for his final run, and that the flatlanding of DMC may have taken his chance to do that. DMC may be a legend but that does not give him a right to eat up other peoples runtime.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:41 am
“Jamie Bestwick has won first place in Vert three years in a row. If he continues on this path and remains healthy, next year he will probably become the first BMX rider to ever win four gold medals in a row.”
what world do you live in??? dave miraa won 5 park comps in a row from 96 to 2000
August 4th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Really what the Xgames people need to do, is bring back Dirt jumping! That is truly one of the basics of riding BMX and they did not have it on this year, how lame of them!
August 4th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Get a fucking life. You have no place in BMX.
August 4th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I have life. It is great, and it is right in the middle of BMX… You lose, no-name comment guy.
August 4th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
you right!…fattony
August 4th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
I can’t believe all the trash talking from BMX riders to BMX riders. FatTony, I have no idea who you are, I’m from a little town in Australia, but thank you for everything you do to contribute to BMX and the BMX community! Myself, my mates and probably the rest of the world thanks you!
What happened to the days of BMX riders being stoked that their are other BMX riders just like them out there? That’s where we still are…..
August 4th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
umm no matter what happened even if the gates of hell broke open on the flat bottom of the ramp bestwick still would of won. so does it matter NO dont trash talk were a bmx COMMUNITY were supposed to get ALONG =))))
August 4th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Thanks for the support! <3
August 5th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
BMX is an activity where if it is to be true there is no room for low level humans. The ones who have been around enough and have dedicated time of their lives expect seriousness towards it, and not people making no effort whatsoever to really think and search for what is true before speaking. There is no value on insulting with or without a ground, except for the value of the damage to the integrity of the person that spit out the insult. If you think about it you will see that that is no way of going forward. And if someone is not interested in doing so (going forward), then he is like a zombie in the world surrounded by his own decaying life of thought.
I see the illness of the human being in society in this website by reading so much lack of selfrespect. I also see an effort by the people that work in Ride. They want to give something good, but to who?…
Why it is so hard for people to want to better themselves?, Only from that place communication is possible.
I think Fat is right on point. Whoever be that uses someone else’s time without being aware of the consequences on that person, is at fault. And I respect the fact that F.Tony has said so.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
I was at the XGames watching the vert contest as for the comments about Tim and DMC, Dennis didn’t eat any of Tim’s time, Tim went first and Simon was to go last after DMC so Simon gave up his run for Tim thus giving him a partial 5th run instead of 4 like all the other riders, so get your facts straight homie and Kagy actually got cut short in the finals are you going to complain about that too? Who’s fault is that Simon’s, Jack Nicholson’s, Eddie Murphy’s get it together cry baby?
August 6th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
X Games 15 was a blast and I look forward to many more. I try to make it a point to avoid petty drama, but this gem warrants a response.
Fat Tony - dragging Tim and I into a totally fabricated controversy is what is in poor taste. If you truly wanted to do an honest report, you could have contacted us both before posting an article full of misinformation. What you refer to as wasting time playing around on the flatbottom (after my 540 slam) was actually a rider with a fresh concussion sorting out where the hell he was and what body parts functioned. As far as the “showboating” comment, an announcement was made that my run would be the last of the comp. I wasn’t aware that a post 900 flatland inspired nosewheelie down the tranny during my allotted time was going to rub you wrong.
Per the format, Tim Wood rode first. Any run I stand accused of cheating him out of, would have been an extra run. I had about 2 minutes after a serious smack to the head to come to my senses and decide if I was going to continue. I missed Simon’s memo that he planned to give Tim a bonus run (that could have bumped Kagy from the Final.) I must mention that I wish I could have made this point without continuing to drag Tim’s name into this–he tore it up and at least that will remain undisputed.
Simon - I assume I am the “someone else” you are referring to. I can’t believe you responded to this article just 36 minutes after it was posted. Were you a co-author? X Games or not, it was just a Vert comp, not the Battle of Hastings. Next year feel free to skip all of your runs and us lesser folk will thank you for your benevolence.
Love,
DMC
August 6th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
This why time and time again Dennis is not only my hero,but ny friend! If your going to get all bent out of shape,about DMC,then take it up with the Brigade,because we’ll brick ya! Ha ha!
P.S. Brigade does not promote violence!
August 6th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
you diss DMC you diss yo-self sucka. eat shit and live.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I agree with you DMC, it was just a Vert comp, I known that we are talking about x-games, but we have to look at that as a funny sport…..putting excusses isn’t right…if Tim did’t qualify was because of his run,,,,your are a legend and an inspiration for me…..
keep in touch….
August 6th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Word up son it’s all bullsheeattt DMC is absolutely right I was there I witnessed it all, Tim and Dennis both ripped, that’s the way the ball bounces G, you wanna be ‘captain save a pro rider’? Wake up the comp was fair, don’t player hate on McCoy because he can still kick major ass, don’t be a beeatch!!!!
August 7th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
lucky i wasnt in that shit. all these washed up vert sissys woulda been takin back!! 540 body variels 1080s. majestic tuck no handers 35 ft out with a 11 ft wingspan…. im comn for blloodxgames 16
August 7th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
You should really get the facts before you start beef.
lil gossip girl
August 7th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Its all about money and fame now.
VAN HOMAN WILL SAVE US!
August 7th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
if fat tony needs to do one thing its pick different music for videos. i like guns n roses but wow do they sound bad in a bike vid. all of your song pics are bad
August 7th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Wow, DMC would have come across much more mature and much more like his age if he just left the bullshit alone. dumb ass. it is all so stupid.
August 7th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
seriously
August 7th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
FERR REAL
August 7th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Yesssir. Talked to him today!
August 7th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Ok if tim wood didnt make it with the runs he was given chances are he wasnt gonna make it with 1 more run.
and hes right its just a contest if jamie is in it tim wasnt gonna win it.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Simon,
While your accomplishments in this sport are outstanding, your professionalism is not. The fact that Tim or whom ever is “great human being” doesn’t deed him a spot in the finals. Giving up your final run is bad form. If your sponsor, who ever it is, had any sort of backbone they would fine or fire you. To call out any rider let alone Dennis, is out of line and you my friend owe your sponsor, your fans, and Dennis “The Real” McCoy (1988 Freestylin NORA Cup winner, BMX PLUS 1987 Rider of the Year, 1987 AFA Masters Overall Champion) a sincere and heart felt apology, in person. (or a phone call will do)
Dont air your business on the internet.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
“But at the same time I would have rather seen new, progressive tricks being done on a regular box jump, a spine, and quarter pipes than the same tricks we’ve seen for years being done up step ups and on to fly outs.”
really? What do you think is harder, chase hawk doing a 30 foot long 180 up a step up 12 feet out of it, or gayniel dhers doing his latest twist-and-suck-his-own-dick 720 to flat over a box jump that he spent 10 months in the foam pit perfecting? this is a perfect example of how tailwhips to flat don’t get you into bmx finals at a real course, having talent on a bike does.
i’d rather see bmx go somewhere without toolbags like you dictating anything about it.
also, where would daniel dhers be without a foam pit?
Caracas, Venezuela. with shitty teeth.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
doug you are obviously an underdeveloped puberty hitting rookie jealous bitch. before you diss dmc, learn some history fool dmc will kill you on the vert ramp and any other discipline of bmx an i will also put a stab in your disrespectful nonsense shit talkin face.live it then put your opinion out you biased s.o.b.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
word
August 7th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
OK, so if Tim Wood got the same 4 full runs as everyone else and still didn’t make finals, how did he got screwed over? Tim didn’t get in a full fifth run because DMC used too much of his own run? Even though none of the other riders would have gotten a fifth run either, only Tim? If that’s getting screwed over, then I must be missing something. Way to create controversy where none exists. Now that you got DMC, who’s next on the hit list?
August 7th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Tony - I notice you’ve replied to other posts on here, yet not to DMC’s post earlier? Interesting…
August 7th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
it sounds very unfair of simon tabron to give his run to an other rider in my opinion,+ dmc’s response explains everything to me.also, the “victim” of this little drama hasnt even spoken yet, i doubt that he asked fat tony to advocate for him!
fat tony, what did you think putting this shit up would accomplish? very childish of you
August 7th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Anyone else thinking that a jam format was a fuckin dumb idea for a vert contest? Or am i alone on this one?
August 7th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Seriously, you three (tony,tabron,DMC) are an embarresment.
So-called figure heads, so called ‘proffesionals’, yet you resort to the type of behaviour only seen on forums, full of kids just ‘in it for a minute’.
Sort this stuff out, take it offline. And quit embarrising me, the sport i love and all us other BMXers.
In conclusion, you’re a bunch of bell-ends.
August 7th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
DMC has been shady since 1980, he wins in my book!
August 7th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
why no reply to this fat tony? reaLISED YOUR AN IDIOT YET?
August 7th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Non of you could do either so what even hate about it?
If you aren’t anybody in the sport then don’t even bother calling someone out.
BTW Im sure non of you would last in Caracas no even a day, talk some shit there and your teeth will be gone along with your money and soul.
August 7th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Welcome to the League Dennis!
August 7th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Tim should’ve just fucking sat on the deck for a little bit and made it out like WTF I HAVE NO TIME?! thats what i would’ve done.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I don’t really care whos right or wrong, I just don’t like when people who have a voice in bmx take sides with their hidden agendas.
If you have a job working with bmx media or MCing a contest keep your opinions about how you think things should be done to yourselves. Because I don’t trust you. You are just “bros” with the dudes that complain alot and have the money.
I’m not against what DMC did at this vert comp, and I can’t judge it because I wasn’t there and I don’t know what was going through his head. But I don’t trust him either. He is not a humble dude. I saw him jump into a judges meeting at a pro comp he had no part in and tell them that they need to judge his way. It wasn’t his place.
And I’m stoked on the contests with real park courses like the x-games this year. All the best riders in the world that actually have dialed bike control got better places like they should. Who seriously wants to see a box jump contest??? All the dudes that swim in foam pits for a living should just stay there. I’m not saying that all your nipple-twister and quad-whip tricks are not hard or cool. I just hate seeing great courses designed and the jocks show up and just do stock box tricks and quarter airs.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
you are the man!
August 7th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
fat tony is a cumsniffa
DMC is the everlasting peoples champ.
the only person that could beat up DMC is joe rich, and DMC would still nosewheelie on a bitch.
Simon. you sound like a whiny pussy. go back to being diet jamie bestwick,jamie bestwick light.
joe fucking johnson needs to come back, fuck the game up.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
To be fair guys i was watching that vert final and DMC’s run wasnt enough for a final place, his second run was wank compared to Tabrons but he equaled his score?!
Can no-one see that dead airs dont score well? he had so many set up airs he shouldnt have been in the final.
A legend but no longer a top 4 competitor… sorry DMC but you had NO right to be in the final, being a legend is not a guaranteed place in the finals. (or why wasnt Zach Shaw there?!)
August 7th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
is this really what BMX is comeing to? what happened to having fun?
August 7th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
This is the exact reason I left vert competition, DMC was always encroaching on my time, I couldn’t even focus enough to pull the rollback.
August 8th, 2009 at 12:17 am
DMC outclassed this clown in a single post.
end thread.
August 8th, 2009 at 1:12 am
didn’t trevor meyer win x-games flatland 3 years in a row, too? or does flatland not count
August 8th, 2009 at 1:39 am
what is this, the come-up? you should all give up cause jamie bestwick destroys every comp.
August 8th, 2009 at 1:42 am
HAHAHAHAHA
August 8th, 2009 at 2:24 am
Damn!I thought I was on The Come-up.
August 8th, 2009 at 4:10 am
has anyone thought that maybe it wasn’t simon tabron who made the comment on here? i’m not simon but i’m using his name.
August 8th, 2009 at 4:22 am
its hard for mutants
August 8th, 2009 at 4:25 am
too good
August 8th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Hi Dennis,
So you were loopy after hitting your head (again).
My reaction as a fan to the nose wheelie was, “Jess! (my wife) Did you see that?! RAD! LOVE IT!”
You did steal a few seconds regaining your composure after the hit, but wouldn’t that be considered injury recover time? Did the clock stop? Does it normally stop for injury?
If the announcer said “last run”, that’s game, set and match, IMO.
Nothing to see here, folks. Move on.
For what it’s worth, anyone making a call on this little ‘controversy’ should not consider how many titles you’ve won, NORA cups you drink beer out of, or McMuffins you’ve eaten. Just the facts, and the facts say the clock should have stopped, and that you were notified that you had the last run.
YOU GOT AN IIIIITCH!? SCRATCH IT!
I hope I’m riding as long as you, sir.
John Dale
RedEndo BMX
Curbrider LLC
August 8th, 2009 at 11:52 am
fire fat tony.
August 8th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
i love you dmc…. xoxo
August 8th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
i fucked some dyke in the ass at the xgames ill shit
August 8th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
At the end of the day who gives a fuck. It’s vert, nobody rides vert and it looks like shit. Why it is still in the X-Games is beyond me.
August 8th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
fuck you fat tony, you catfish piece of shit.
August 9th, 2009 at 9:52 am
why bother arguing over who got 8th place?
August 9th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Tony, you are a giant piece of shit.. no one likes you, not even your own mother. I hope you die in a fire… Maybe learn how to bunnyhop before you can come on here and talk shit on a legend of the sport.
August 9th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I saw the circus, and it sucked
August 10th, 2009 at 6:12 am
if you hate fat tony and keith so much how bout yous all get the fuck off site that they run for your benefit and go blow ya mother….if you have a problem with whatever they say and do….then stay the fuck off their site…simple
August 10th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
You guys are all acting like a bunch of girls… sexy girls