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World's extreme daredevils defy death, gravity and odds in KIA X Games Asia
By Fei Lai |
May 27, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE world's top extreme sports athletes compete from today through Sunday in the KIA X Games Asia at Shanghai's KIC Jiangwan Sports Center where a new three-story ramp will be used for the first time in Asia.
The monumental structure is longer than two basketball courts, and athletes will perform some never-before-seen maneuvers on the ramp.
Almost 200 athletes from 30 countries and regions will compete in the extravaganza in Yangpu District.
The event provides not only stunts, but a carnival of pop and rock as well.
The KIA X-Games are organized by Shanghai Media Group, ESPN STAR Sports' Event Management and the Shanghai Sports Federation.
Among the confirmed competitors are a number of X Games medalists, including eight-time gold medalist American Andy MacDonald on the skateboard, six-time gold medalist American Bucky Lasek on the skateboard, five-time gold medalist Canadian Pierre-Luc Gagnon on the skateboard, four-time gold medalist American Kevin Robinson for BMX freestyle and eight-time medalist Briton Simon Tabron for the BMX freestyle.
MacDonald, 38, represents the United States in skateboarding.
He is among the top three skaters in the world and says he feels relaxed and not worried about his standing.
MacDonald has competed at every X Games and is tied with Tony Hawk for the most SKB medals, 16. He gives anti-drug talks in schools and was named an "American Hero" by the Fresh Air Fund in 2008.
He has put the 720 back into his run for the first time since 2000, and has added more tricks in his run than other skaters; he can complete his entire run multiple times during an event without taking a fall, even when it looks like he is going down.
His top tricks include a flatspin 540 and he is the only one doing a nollie 360 varial heelflip "lottery flip" (frontside, backside and to fakie).
Robinson is a formidable presence in BMX, and not just because of his 6-foot, 210-pound frame. He usually tries the biggest moves, and he has a remarkable ability to take brutal hits and keep coming back.
That drive resulted in the first-ever double flair, which Robinson landed in Vert Best Trick at X Games 2006. He earned his first X Games gold that day, added a BMX Big Air gold days later and successfully defended that title in 2007. In June 2008, he set a new record for highest air out of a quarterpipe at 27-feet (out of a 27-ft-tall quarter).
Robinson isn't afraid to try crazy stunts. Flairs and 540s are his strongest and favorite tricks. "I'm almost more comfortable doing flairs and 540s than regular airs."
Having one of the best no-handed flairs around and having recently learned 540 tailwhips, he throws a lot of no-handed and switch-handed combos. His airs start out high but get progressively lower because he's more interested in doing as many back-to-back tricks as he can.
The Yasutoko brothers, Eito and Takeshi, a popular draw for Asian fans, return to demonstrate their skill in the aggressive in-line vert.
Eito is the only male skater ever to have won three X Games gold medals (1999, 2000, 2003). He is the 2003 ASA top ranked Vert skater. In the summer of 2003, he moved to California.
In the year since X Games IX, he has traveled, done hundreds of demos and competed in pro competitions. In 2003 and 2004, the only times he didn't win gold, he was second behind his younger brother, Takeshi.
"I do not like to feel regret. I just try to do my best for everything in my life. Of course, we make many mistakes but we can learn from them and improve. I just want to laugh and say at the end that my life was best."
Eito's greatest strength is the gymnastic power of his air tricks. He does signature moves like the California Roll 180 and the double backflip 180. Eito has never been interested in any sport other than rollerblading.
"My skating style is strange because I do not have ability for sports," he says. "I was lucky because skating is very natural for me. I can express my feelings by my skating."
Eito's parents were professional roller disco skaters who owned a roller rink in Japan. "I grew up at skate rinks. Everybody around me skated and I thought everybody needed skates for life. I knew nothing outside the rink."
Takeshi Yasutoko has five X Games medals (4 Vert, 1 Vert Triples). He spent most of the 2003 season trying to master the double flat spin, but the trick eluded him, and he repeatedly found himself in the bottom half of the top ten. Finally, in February 2004, he nailed the trick in Kuala Lumpur and took home the Asian X Games gold medal. Since then, he has picked up a gold medal (Cincinnati MSS) and a silver (Kuala Lumpur X Games). His progressive lip tricks and massive height make him the most well-rounded vert skater today. "My philosophy is that I will never be conservative at competitions."
Takeshi has a unique style. His air tricks are higher than any other skater on the vert ramp. Even his signature Viking flip measures in at around 4.27-meter on a good ramp. But his lip tricks are what really give him an edge over Eito. He uses street strategy to pull off some of the most progressive grinds on vert.
The monumental structure is longer than two basketball courts, and athletes will perform some never-before-seen maneuvers on the ramp.
Almost 200 athletes from 30 countries and regions will compete in the extravaganza in Yangpu District.
The event provides not only stunts, but a carnival of pop and rock as well.
The KIA X-Games are organized by Shanghai Media Group, ESPN STAR Sports' Event Management and the Shanghai Sports Federation.
Among the confirmed competitors are a number of X Games medalists, including eight-time gold medalist American Andy MacDonald on the skateboard, six-time gold medalist American Bucky Lasek on the skateboard, five-time gold medalist Canadian Pierre-Luc Gagnon on the skateboard, four-time gold medalist American Kevin Robinson for BMX freestyle and eight-time medalist Briton Simon Tabron for the BMX freestyle.
MacDonald, 38, represents the United States in skateboarding.
He is among the top three skaters in the world and says he feels relaxed and not worried about his standing.
MacDonald has competed at every X Games and is tied with Tony Hawk for the most SKB medals, 16. He gives anti-drug talks in schools and was named an "American Hero" by the Fresh Air Fund in 2008.
He has put the 720 back into his run for the first time since 2000, and has added more tricks in his run than other skaters; he can complete his entire run multiple times during an event without taking a fall, even when it looks like he is going down.
His top tricks include a flatspin 540 and he is the only one doing a nollie 360 varial heelflip "lottery flip" (frontside, backside and to fakie).
Robinson is a formidable presence in BMX, and not just because of his 6-foot, 210-pound frame. He usually tries the biggest moves, and he has a remarkable ability to take brutal hits and keep coming back.
That drive resulted in the first-ever double flair, which Robinson landed in Vert Best Trick at X Games 2006. He earned his first X Games gold that day, added a BMX Big Air gold days later and successfully defended that title in 2007. In June 2008, he set a new record for highest air out of a quarterpipe at 27-feet (out of a 27-ft-tall quarter).
Robinson isn't afraid to try crazy stunts. Flairs and 540s are his strongest and favorite tricks. "I'm almost more comfortable doing flairs and 540s than regular airs."
Having one of the best no-handed flairs around and having recently learned 540 tailwhips, he throws a lot of no-handed and switch-handed combos. His airs start out high but get progressively lower because he's more interested in doing as many back-to-back tricks as he can.
The Yasutoko brothers, Eito and Takeshi, a popular draw for Asian fans, return to demonstrate their skill in the aggressive in-line vert.
Eito is the only male skater ever to have won three X Games gold medals (1999, 2000, 2003). He is the 2003 ASA top ranked Vert skater. In the summer of 2003, he moved to California.
In the year since X Games IX, he has traveled, done hundreds of demos and competed in pro competitions. In 2003 and 2004, the only times he didn't win gold, he was second behind his younger brother, Takeshi.
"I do not like to feel regret. I just try to do my best for everything in my life. Of course, we make many mistakes but we can learn from them and improve. I just want to laugh and say at the end that my life was best."
Eito's greatest strength is the gymnastic power of his air tricks. He does signature moves like the California Roll 180 and the double backflip 180. Eito has never been interested in any sport other than rollerblading.
"My skating style is strange because I do not have ability for sports," he says. "I was lucky because skating is very natural for me. I can express my feelings by my skating."
Eito's parents were professional roller disco skaters who owned a roller rink in Japan. "I grew up at skate rinks. Everybody around me skated and I thought everybody needed skates for life. I knew nothing outside the rink."
Takeshi Yasutoko has five X Games medals (4 Vert, 1 Vert Triples). He spent most of the 2003 season trying to master the double flat spin, but the trick eluded him, and he repeatedly found himself in the bottom half of the top ten. Finally, in February 2004, he nailed the trick in Kuala Lumpur and took home the Asian X Games gold medal. Since then, he has picked up a gold medal (Cincinnati MSS) and a silver (Kuala Lumpur X Games). His progressive lip tricks and massive height make him the most well-rounded vert skater today. "My philosophy is that I will never be conservative at competitions."
Takeshi has a unique style. His air tricks are higher than any other skater on the vert ramp. Even his signature Viking flip measures in at around 4.27-meter on a good ramp. But his lip tricks are what really give him an edge over Eito. He uses street strategy to pull off some of the most progressive grinds on vert.
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