8.3.07 X-GAMES XIII, PLG BIG AIR FINALS
After the street qualifiers it was off to the Staples Center to catch the Big Air finals. It’s hard to comprehend how anyone would drop into a 100+ foot drop-in to be hucked over a 70-foot gap to then land on a large downhill and have a 20 something foot quarterpipe in front of you, but for Burnquist, Lorifice, Halterman, Brown, Lasek, and PLG, they live for this excitement. The Mega Ramp filled the entire Staples Center from floor to ceiling. Each competitor had 5 tries at sticking their tricks, and the best single score would determine the winner. PLG was amazing. On his 3rd run, he stuck his backside 360-kickflip mute over the 70-foot gap and pulled his 21-foot method on the quarter. With a score of 93.00 he catapulted his way from last to first. As the contest was coming to an end, only Jake Brown and Bob Burnquist could knock PLG from his top spot, PLG assured himself a podium finish, and if all went well his score of 93 would hold up and he would win gold. Jake Brown was feeling the pressure. I’m getting chills just thinking about it. Jake dropped in and nailed a backside 720 over the 70-foot gap. The crowd bursted into excitement. Jake flew down the landing ramp and went up the quarter and then the unthinkable happened. Jake flew out of control and his angle and speed tossed Jake out from the lip of the ramp. From 40 feet in the air he landed straight to flat bottom on his side. It was by far the worst thing I’ve ever witnessed. There were cries from the stands, tears were flowing from many faces, and Jake was not moving. When something like this happens it doesn’t matter who wins or looses. All of us that skateboard are connected in some way or another. Jake regained consciousness, and miracously was able to walk off of the ramp with a lot of help. I’m not sure what injuries Jake might have sustained, but we at Osiris of thinking of you. In our books Jake won the contest. Don’t let anyone tell you differently Jake is awesome, and we wish him and speedy and full recovery. Below you can find two separate video clips. The first one is of PLG and Burnquist making their runs. The second clip is of Jake. I’m not sure how long I will keep this clip up. It’s not something everyone should see, but here it is for now.