A look at some of the moments in Extreme Sports that had people talking in 2006.
2006 has drawn to a close. Here is a look at some of the moments in extreme sports that had people talking.
In X Games News: This was the year of X Games 12
Danny Way pulled the first- and second-ever backflip off of the Mega Ramp to win his third gold.
Travis Pastrana competed in four X Games events: SuperMoto, MotoX Freestyle, MotoX Best Trick, and Rally Car. In addition to winning three gold medals (missing out only in SuperMoto), Pastrana pulled the first ever double backflip in a MotoX competition.
Competitors in the women's skateboarding events joined together to protest gender inequality in the X Games. The athletes joined together and approached X Games officials about the huge gap in prize money and coverage between the men's and women's events. While a gap still exists, changes have been made.
Dave Mirra didn't compete in the summer X Games for the first time in X Games history. During a practice for X Games 12, Mirra lacerated his liver and was unable to compete.
How Bad Do You Really Want to Win? Team Nike/Powerblast battled 94 other teams, the unrelenting heat of the Moab desert, exhaustion, dehydration and an amazing lightening storm to re-claim their title as the winners of Primal Quest.
Slowly Taking Over the World: BMX will debut in the 2008 Olympics.
When I Grow Up...Skateboarding was the proving grounds for some of the youngest athletes in professional sports. Ryan Sheckler and Nyjah Houston didn't just show up, they brought their best moves. While Houston, the youngest, has earned a respectable standing, it is Sheckler that has moved ahead of the pack.
Lessons in Perseverance:
Jamie Bestwick returned from having two vertebrae in his neck surgically fused to dominate in the Dew Action Sports and take silver at X Games 12. Although he's implied that it's time, the question remains, "will he really retire?"
Danelle Ballengee, an elite adventure racer was injured after a fall and spent two nights stranded in the Utah backcountry. Ballengee's dog, Taz, led rescuers to Ballengee who was taken to a Denver hospital for treatment.
Skateboarder Sandro Diaz had an excellent year. In addition to winning his first gold medal in X Games 12, the Brazil native was ranked #1 in World Cup Skateboarding for Vert.
Michael Holmes survived a 2 mile fall while skydiving in New Zealand. Holmes fell 1,500 feet after his parachute failed to open and suffered a punctured lung and ankle fracture in addition to the bumps and bruises.
