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Closing the night was the Big Air BMX Triple Jump contest that brought fans to their feet several times in admiration. With his first run of the night, Rob Darden (Greenville, NC) successfully rode the 165 foot long course performing three, exciting big-air stunts, then re-jumped the second jump, heading back toward the starting ramp. He is one of only two riders to jump back in the opposite direction and by the competition’s end he had completed this stunt in all three of his runs. Darden was rewarded with the Big Air BMX Triple Jump title and $10,000 for his efforts.

“I ride at a skate park that is built that way, where you can ride forward and backward in a single run. The only difference here is that the jumps are taller and you can’t see the landing. But the quarterpipe on this course gives you the speed you need and makes it easier to do it,” explained Darden. “I just went out to have a good time, tried it, and it worked out.”

Always a contender, Mike Spinner (Miami, Fla.), triple tailwhipped his way into second place, and 19 year-old Zack Warden of O’Fallon, Illinois finished third. Warden performed one of the night’s most exciting tricks when he landed a bike-flip 360, a trick he calls the “iron lotus”. The only rider to have ever landed the trick, Warden secured the bronze medal.

Providing the wow-factor of the Big Air BMX Triple Jump contest was T. J. Ellis with his second run of the evening. Turning in a first run during which he successfully performed a no-handed front flip, Ellis nailed a double backflip and surprised not only the crowd and the judges, but also himself.

“I’ve done it before on dirt courses, but never on this course. I just thought I’d try it and it worked!” The double backflip helped Ellis to advance to the Semifinals, which saw further attempts at the trick fail and keep him from advancing to the Finals.

Pics: ASA