X Games 2012 - Smallish Skateboard Recap
~Women's Street~
1) Alexis Sablone
2) Leticia Bufoni
3) Rachel Reinhard
My thoughts on it: http://skatefluckit.com/showthread.php?t=11770
Skateboard Big Air
1) Bob Burnquist
2) Mitchie Brusco
3) Nolan Munroe
My thoughts on it: Bob doing switch tricks and little kids spinning like tops.
I didn't find it very exciting to watch, but I have respect for the endurance and balls it takes.
Game of SK8
1) Ryan Decenzo
2) Ishod Wair
3) Aaron "Jaws" Homoki
My thoughts on it: Ryan is a machine, but this format is done better at the Berrics.
Skateboard Park
1) Pedro Barros
2) Ben Hatchell
3) Rune Glifberg
My thoughts on it: Pedro Barros has style for miles. I think Brazilian park riders are my fave
when it comes to that endless flow and crazy abilty to gain speed. I don't care how close the
scores looked as to me Barros was in a class by himself. One of my young buck favorites was
in this one as well. However, Mr. Ben Raybourn didn't make the podium as I was hoping. You
can see his ability improving and to me he is simply one of the sickest skaters in years who
runs the courses in very unique ways.
Skateboard Vert
1) Pierre-Luc Gagnon
2) Bucky Lasek
3) Andy MacDonald
My thoughts on it: PLG and Bucky honestly tied with 91's, but because PLG had the next highest
run between them he won. PLG was tech as fuck, Bucky was consistent, and Andy Mac was just
normal Andy. I have to give props also to Sandro Dias who fought hard, but got 4th and little grom
Tom Scharr (12 years old doing 720's into 900's) when he finishes drinking his milk is going to
curbstomp PLG into oblivion. The best part of the competition was not having Shaun White in it.
Men's Skateboard Street
1) Paul Rodriguez
2) Ryan Sheckler
3) Nyjah Huston
My thoughts on it: In all fairness the 4th Heat before the Finals was the best of the competition,
but the Finals were pretty solid. Manny Santiago, Chaz Ortiz, and Ryan Decenzo all did really
well, but just couldn't stay up with the Top 3. Nyjah has a fucked up knee, but was still throwing
down 360 flip -> BS Lipslides on the big rail and working that park. Sheckler looked energized
for a change and was hitting everything hard as hell like he was a few years back. It was his best
showing in a long time. P Rod honestly from a viewer standpoint wasn't that exciting and you'd
probably wonder why he won, but as a skater you recognize how beasty he was considering he
did almost everything Switch. SLS is keeping these guys in the right mind when it comes to doing
a competition with the intent of strategically winning. Sometimes not the most exciting, but very
effective.
Real Street
1) Nyjah Huston
2) Taylor Bingaman
3) Aaron "Jaws" Homoki
*Fan Favorite: Collin Provost
My thoughts on it: Nyjah did in a month with a fucked up knee what most Pro's never do in their
careers. It was big and tech. Bingaman was solid, but nothing really stood out. Jaws did his usual
beasty work where you know he'll be crippled in his old age. Dropping like 2-3 stories and sqatting
it out and riding away is just insane. Other good ones were Provost, Worrest, Santiago, Tim Tim,
Gall (skated some of the gnarliest places), and Haslam. I personally dug Tim Tim the most with
Worrest a very close second and Manny a nice third.
