originality and style, amplitude (height of airs) and use of the course.
ATHLETE: Dennis Enarson
ACCOMPLISHMENT: Dennis Enarson, back in the X Games
after suffering a broken femur last year, returned to the BMX Park course, but left with another injury. During his third run in the 18- minute jam session final he caught his back tire on the bowl ledge and was pitched to the ground. He suffered a broken wrist and some cuts to his face but still managed to walk away with a Bronze Medal. QUOTE: “It’s great to have an event in a new place and to get to ride with new riders – I’ve always wanted to compete in Brazil. It would have been nice not to get hurt and to try to win Gold, but it’s always nice to be on the podium.”
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DISCIPLINE: Men’s BMX Vert
Vert competitions have become a favorite of action sports fans
around the world. Essentially a halfpipe made of skatelite and wood, the Vert Ramp for X Games is 60 feet wide with 11.5-foot transitions and two feet of vert. The riders ride the ramp from wall to wall combining technical spins and lip tricks. Competitors will be judged based on aggressive execution of maneuvers, degree of difficulty, variety, continuity of run, originality and style, amplitude (height of airs) and use of the ramp. ATHLETE: Coco Zurita
ACCOMPLISHMENT: On a course with arguably the most stunning backdrop in all of action sports (Iguazu Falls), Zurita had his best placing to date in an X Games BMX Vert competition, taking the Silver Medal.
QUOTE: “It was hard to focus on riding because the waterfalls were right there and so beautiful, but I was super excited to finish second. Means a lot to do this in South America.”
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.