Moscow, Russia - After three solid days of rain, the weather gods finally relented. Sunday's skies were perfect, the ramps were dry and the Russian people poured into the Luzhniki Olympic Stadium to check out the competition finals. First up was BMX. After an easy victory in the prelims, John Parker woke up sick with a Russian flu. Still, he managed to pull out a tail whip and a 540 to finish 5th. Koji Kraft pulled some good combo moves, but a couple of short runs kept him in 3rd. Jay Miron did some big 540s and smooth whips, but washed out on a 540 whip to pull into 2nd. But the big story was Tom Stober , who nailed his first ever double tail whip in a comp run and took home his first ever pro vert gold medal.

When the Russian crowd heard there was a skateboarding comp about to start, they nearly caused a stampede in their excited rush to the ramp. Sandro Dias tried the 900, but couldn't quite pull it off. Jake Brown nailed a big tail grab 540 in his first run to finish in fourth. After a dismal first run, Danny Mayer stepped up with a series of solid tricks to take third. Andy Macdonald pulled out a strong combo line that featured a nice lein 540. And Buster Halterman took the gold with a full line of back-to-back tricks, including a couple of big 540 variations and a backside lipslide.

After an intermission of dancing girls and Russian borscht, the rollerbladers took to the ramp. Takeshi Yasutoko nearly took the roof off the tent with his massive set up airs, but he couldn't get the Viking flip to submit to his will and he ended in tenth. Fabiola da Silva stuck a nice inverted 900, as did Shane Yost . Shane was skating stronger than ever, throwing fakie 900s and his signature garfunkel to finish third. Marco de Santi stuck a textbook double flatspin and then threw a brand new trick, sort of like a double back flip and a double flat spin, which he calls a double huck flip. But it was the elder Japanese brother, Eito Yasutoko , who took the gold medal. Eito nailed his signature California Roll 1080, a double back flip 180 and a double back flip that had the crowd on their feet.

All in all, the riders were surprised by the beauty of the Russian capitol and its women in particular. As soon as we can get all the proper paperwork in order, we'll be back. It shouldn't take more than a year . . .

» go to Day One recap

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Dr. Doolittle was unable to make it to this event to tend to his pushme pullyou. (Tom Stober and Sandro Dias seem to be heading in opposite directions...)