Wednesday, 19 October 2005

Skateboarder Danny Way takes it all the way

After seeing Danny Way bail his first three runs last Sunday, it would be understandable if the capacity crowd at the second X Games Big Air event were concerned and perhaps confused. The very idea that Way might not take a second gold—or even podium—in the event that he helped create for the 2004 X Games seemed almost unthinkable last month as the 31-year-old skateboarder soared over the Great Wall of China. But with his recent ankle injuries taking their obvious toll, it was a near-miracle that Danny Way was participating at all.

But just as everyone came to grips with Danny Way's mortality, his spectacular fourth run reminded everyone at the Staples Centre why the world-record holder is one of the few who rides like a god on a skateboard. The run rocketed Danny Way from fifth to first place, thanks to a 70-plus foot frontside 360 into a Christ air near the 20-foot range and the combination launched him a full 50 feet in the air.

Up until Danny Way's fourth run, Vert gold medalist Pierre-Luc Gagnon had been sitting pretty in first place. With his father cheering him on, he'd blasted 360s over the big gap into 21-foot methods and one-footed Japan air. Meanwhile, Danny Way hadn't completed a run yet. But once Danny Way nailed that fourth run, all hope of Pierre-Luc Gagnon adding a second gold to his X Games take were rapidly destroyed. Instead, it became a battle for second place between Pierre-Luc Gagnon (who hit the 70-footer for the first time the morning of the competition) and Andy Mac (who started skating it the day before).

Andy Mac, the only skater to land three of the five runs today, briefly threatened to end Pierre-Luc Gagnon 's silver streak in the event. But when the dust cleared, his backside 360-judo air and a "thread the needle" in the 14-foot range over the big gap weren't enough, and Andy Mac had to settle for the bronze. Pierre-Luc Gagnon won silver, his third medal of the Games.

But neither skater was too concerned with missing out on the gold. Both were just happy that they had conquered the 70-foot gap and were looking forward to next year. "We're only scratching the surface," said Andy Mac.

Despite scoring his second straight Big Air gold, Danny Way was less impressed with his performance than most of his fans in the audience. "I wasn't completely on my game today," he said afterward. "But once I figured out that I could skate, I just wanted to make a run regardless of where I placed."

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