X Games 16, day 1: Jake Brown takes the gold from Bob Burnquist on Big Air final

Jake Brown spinning a 540 on his way up to 21.8 feet height and back-to-back gold at the X Games 16
Big Air competition. (Photo: Luiz Calado)

The first medals of X Games 16 in skateboarding were given out on Thursday, the very first day of the event, in the Big Air competition, held at the L.A. Coliseum.

Three Brazilians – Edgard “Vovô” Pereira, Pedro Barros and Lincoln Ueda – qualified in the eliminations round the day before.

In the finals they would joined fellow countryman Bob Burnquist – a favorite in the discipline, specially with Danny Way pulling out of the contest after practice.

However, the day did not turn out their way.

With only six contenders in the final, Ueda did not compete and Pereira had a fall into the gap. He did not get hurt but ended up in last place.

A switch back five over the Megaramp gap was not enough to keep Bob Burnquist
on top of the podium. (Sequence: Luiz Calado)

Fifteen-year old Barros was able to complete only one run, finishing in fourth, ahead of Adam Taylor. Third place bronze went to Rob Lorifice, who always shows a great deal of confidence in the Megaramp.

Gold looked like it belonged to Burnquist.

Early on the competition, he took the lead after sticking a switch backside five, followed by a smooth frontside seven – on his first run. Bob even reassured his favorite status on his second run by dropping switch again and pulling a back three plus a back five, which he clearly celebrated as a winning combo.

Jake Brown counter attacked on his second run – the only one he completed – with a back flip over the gap followed by a 21.8 feet backside five on the quarter pipe.

Bob's reaction as Jake's winning score is announced. (Image: still from ESPN video)

Arguably, it was the height of his stratospheric McTwist that pushed the judges to give Jake 0.66 points more than Bob, who was visibly upset when Brown’s score was announced.

Bob tried to come back in the fourth and fifth runs by attempting the elusive 900 on the quarter pipe – he got really close to stick it, but unfortunately he never did.

The competition rules state that it is the best run that counts, and therefore Jake was awarded gold and Bob ended up with silver.

Overview of the Megaramp at the L.A. Coliseum (Photo: Luiz Calado)

Bob attempting the 900 to regain the lead. (Photo: Luiz Calado)

Check more photo highlights in the slideshow below, and click here for the complete official results.