X Games 12

X Games 12 had some amazing action in BMX, MotoX, Skateboarding, Rally Car and surfing. Here are some of my fave moments and an ode to Dave Mirra

Wow, The X Games has come through again with some of the most amazing action in extreme sports competition.

First, I want to mention how disappointing it was that Dave Mirra couldn't compete in X Games 12. Dave lacerated his liver in a fall during BMX park practice and wasn't able to participate. This is the first X Games in history that Dave has missed. Going into X Games 12, Dave had more medals (20) than any other athlete, 14 of those medals are gold. With Dave out, there are only four athletes who have participated in all twelve X Games: Bob Burnquist (SB), Andy MacDonald (SB), Dennis McCoy (BMX), and Rune Glifberg (SB).

With Dave Mirra out of the competition, the doors opened for others to claim the gold. Chad Kagy threw two huge tricks in his first run to secure the gold in BMX Vert. Until now, the only people to win the gold in vert were named Mirra and Bestwick. Jaimie Bestwick put in a solid 1st run (although he fell doing a double tailwhip flair in his 2nd run) and ended with the silver. It's hard to believe he just had surgery in May.

Shaun White went all out in skateboard but couldn't score a medal. During the men's vert competition, Shaun had problems with his heel flips. There was some speculation that had Shaun tried a more conservative run, he may have medaled but, that wouldn't have been as much fun to watch. Shaun definitely goes all out! He tried 18 times during the Best Trick competition to land that elusive 1080. The kid was so close. If they gave medals for determination, Shaun would get it. Heck, I'll give him my own medal: the "Suite101.com Extreme Sports Medal for Determination". There, it's his!

The lights went out on Andy MacDonald during his run on the vert. He requested a well-deserved interference call and during his second run, he fell at the same spot he'd been at when the lights went out. *yikes*

Also, in skateboard 11-year old Nyjah Houston made his X Games debut as the youngest competitor in X Games history. Nyjah finished 8th in the skateboard park comp.

I need to give a huge shout out to the female skateboard competitors. They don't get the coverage or the payouts that the men get and they took their concerns to the top. The women's prize money is a little better now but where was ESPN when the ladies were competing? Just wondering...

Those are just some of my favorite highlights from X Games XII. I have also dedicated a blog just for Travis Pastrana's events and results. Check out this week's article for final results from the X Games.