Semi LIVE from Toronto with Susan Linerode. PRELIM report + Results.

Mar 07, 2010

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 5696 times

Drew Bezanson is is setting up to have an absolutely unbelievable year. Coming off a win at Simpel Session in Estonia last month and dropping some insane web edits over the past few weeks, Drew was the one to watch at today's pro qualifier and he did not disappoint. Drew's runs were creative, and his performance flawless. It was no surprise Drew qualified first at today and I'll tell you, the competition was stiff! Drew started his first run up a huge 10' quarter, pulling a wall tap on the wall directly above the judges heads. There was a 5' set back to the wall and Drew easily hit the spot another

10' over the deck. That was just the beginning of a run that included downside fastplants, a downside footplant on an electric box, flairs, whips, a myriad of barspin combinations and some huge transfers. To add to the perfect run, Drew's family traveled from Truro, Nova Scotia to surprise him and watch him compete at today's event.

Other highlights from today's pro qualifier include: Brett "Maddog" Banasiewicz's backflip tailwhip, bar catch barspin and a huge frontie to flat. Brandon Dosch threw down a triple tailwhip (the only of today's riders), a turndown 720 and some completely unique transfer lines. Andre Postell's double downside whip earned him a spot in tomorrow's finals as did Chris Child's huge airs and impressive turndowns. Up and coming rider Rob Armour showed why he deserved to make it to finals with a no handed front flip, huge superman and flipwhip all in quick succession. Fellow heat rider Glenn Saylers pulled a huge flair transfer, and opposite tailwhip transfer, a whip to footjam and a 360 double whip. Chris Hughes rode with an injury to earn a spot in the finals will a cannonball, multiple flairs and an enormously huge turndown. Charlie Bowers pulled a 270 double tap on the hitching post among other big tricks and will be riding tomorrow in finals as well. Fellow Pennsylvania rider Mike Potoczny had a great run with tons of super technical tricks including a downside ice, downside tooth, downside pedal stall, one foot tire grap, an ET 360 and 180. Mike rode his entire run with a huge smile on his face and it was clear to anyone there that he was having a great time. One thing was clear after watching the riders today: the ET and ET variations are back!

Check back for results and more coverage tomorrow but if today is any indication, finals are going to be huge!

Susan Linerode

Pics by: Keith Schmidt and Stacy Gioia

PRO RIDERS PRELIMINARY HEATS RESULTS. SATURDAY MARCH 6, 2010:
score name

96 Drew Bezanson
93.3 Brett Maddog Banasiewicz
89.3 Charlie Bowers

89.3 Chris Hughes
87.7 Glenn Salyers
87 Garrett Reynolds
86.3 Rob Armour
85.3 Chris Childs
84 Brandon Dosch
82 Zak Earley
81.7 Mykel Larrin
80.7 Wade Lajlar
80.3 Brian Hunt
79.3 Hector Restrepo
79 Lil Jon
78.7 AJ Anaya
75 Steven Moxley
74 John Rodgers
73.3 Zane Bradley
64.3 Andre Postell
64.3 Shawn Swain
64 Johnny Del Balso

63.3 Michael Potoczny
63 Augie Simoncini
62.7 Nathan Lord
62 Ronnie Napolitan
60.3 Darcy Peters
60.3 Dillon Lloyd
58.3 Zak Jarvis
58 Louis Pepin
56.3 Dennis Enarson
52.7 Malcolm Forbes
51.7 Ian Christison
48.3 Mike Stanek
48 Kyle Biller
47 Charles Deschamps
46.7 Jamie Burke
44.3 Peter G PierreGauthier
40.3 Chris Chitaroni
37.3 Matthew Armstrong
37 Bradley Wonoski

37 James Lukas
36.3 Jesse Trnka
36.3 Jorden Guth
36 Thomas Hall
36 Will Fisher
35.7 James McKean
35.3 Tim Temko
33 Glen Hoerdt
33 Matthew Drew
32 Patrick Aubichon
30 Brandon Lalonde