in 1995, medals in men's and women's vert, street, big air

in 1995, medals in men's and women's vert, street, big air - motor sport

Aggressive in-line dropped from X Games
By Keith Lair , Staff Writer
Aggressive in-line skating was a popular X Games event.

At the first games in 1995, medals in men's and women's vert, street, big air and best trick were awarded.

When the 11th edition of the X Games takes place Aug. 4-7 at Staples Center, for the first time, aggressive in-line skating will no longer be a medal sport. Only a vert demonstration will be held.

"We look at every sport every year, and at the disciplines in that sport,' X Games general manager Chris Stiepock said. "We look to see a progression and popularity. We're just not seeing that in in-line skating.'

When the X Games first came to L.A. in 2003, vert and men's and women's park were part of the competitions.

Regular in-line skating may be exploding, but Stiepock says aggressive skating, in which the blades do not have brakes, has stagnated.

"We think it lacks focus,' he said. "There is just not a whole lot of in-line vert competitions, and that hurts the sport.'

He said that the efforts of Japanese brothers Takeshi and Eito Yasutoko, or of park skater Jaren Grob, has not gone unnoticed.

"There is nobody new in the vert discipline,' he said. "It makes it appropriate to make it a demo. It's a situation where we have too few athletes at a high level.'

The Yasutoko brothers have finished 1-2 four of the last five years.

"We're behind the sport,' Stiepock said. "But there's problems with its infrastructure.'

Also among the changes in the games will be a new Supermoto course and a long race. The race will be expanded to 45 laps. Riders must make a pit stop to add fuel and change tires.

Jeff Ward, who won the inaugural AMA supermoto title, said the bikes would be unable to go the full length without a fuel change.

"I like it,' Ward said of the changes. "I think it will lead to a great race.'

The pit area will also be open to fans. The Home Depot Center course is again approximately one-third dirt, one-third pavement and one-third motocross. The pavement portion of the course will have longer straights and deeper curves.

Also new to Home Depot will be BMX park and motocross Step Up, of which both are moving from Staples Center. The park course will be set up east of the soccer stadium.

At Staples, freestyle motocross moves outside and BMX vert best trick has been added as a medal event. Keith Lair can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2272, or by e-mail at keith.lair@sgvn.com .