Salt Lake City. Different cities may be more biased as skate fans or BMX fans or FMX. That being said I would consider SLC to be the biggest BMX event on the tour. That area of Utah has always had a big BMX scene, which isn't surprising as legendary rider Tim "Fuzzy" Hall has lived there for years.

First off, I am going to tell you that Jamie Bestwick won vert last year at SLC. He also won vert in the past two Dew Tour Events, Nike & Wendy's, which puts him sitting on his throne in the vert division. Simon Tabron, Chad Kagy, and Steven McCann will simply look up at Jamie and wonder how they will impeach this ruler of the vert world. Seriously, how do you stop him? If he shows up and isn't injured, he is going to win. It's almost that predictable.

At last year's SLC Dew Tour, we had the tear-jerking moment of seeing Mike Aitken in first place, defeating all the whips and spins and flips with his smooth, stylish riding. He was on fire. The local crowd was losing it for him as he linked lines no one has ever seen before. Higher than anybody, smoother than anybody, simply BETTER.

Unfortunately, Aitken went down hard a few months ago and he has only recently gotten back on his bike. Though we won't be seeing him jumping 30 foot sets at this event I am sure he will be there to root for his friends and have fun. That being said, the contest could very well be in the hands of Ryan Nyquist who took the last Dew Tour event after being beaten by two rookies, Josh Hult and Brandon Dosch, at the Nike event. Other big names include Dennis Enarson and Scotty Cranmer who can always come out of nowhere and steal a win. And of course Corey Bohan, one of the more famed names in dirt for his mix of style and trick ability.

BMX Park. I would like to say this is a competition of old versus new, but Dave probably wouldn't respect that. Right now Mirra and Reynolds are tied in first as they swapped first and second places at the first two Dew events. Daniel Dhers is sitting at a disappointing fifth place on the tour but could gain some ground by winning or at least podium-ing this event. Marcus Tooker and Mark Webb are definitely names to look out for, but not as much as Harry Main. Harry broke his leg and took himself out of the first two events but now being back on his bike he is a huge threat to anyone gunning for number one. Harry has more technical, judge-wowing tricks than anybody right now. So let's get to it.

BMX Vert. My bets are on Bestwick. Seriously, what would YOU do!?

BMX Dirt. Ryan Nyquist. Even with Hult and Dosch nipping at his ankles Nyquist always holds strong and is a favorite to win...

BMX Park. This is a tough one. If Main is fully recovered and back on his game for the event I will give him the advantage, but Garrett Reynolds is always down to win his event. Big battle between thsoe two.

Think I'm wrong? My predictions are stupid? Comment this blog and let me know what YOU think!!!

He does it again. I told you that Ryan Nyquist had a way of knowing exactly what the judges are looking for. He just impresses to the max. Nyquist pretty much let out a banger run that took the lead and could not be topped by any other rider. Though seemingly redundant, his run was a double truck, opposite double truck, truck, and then a 720 truck on the last set.He is the truck driving master. Ryan Nyquist wins Dew Tour Portland.


Dennis Enarson steps up to the task and takes second. Once thought a park and street type rider, Enarson proved that his skills were easily taken to the dirt. He is the whip master. Flip whips, triple whips, nothing TO whip... please, stop the tailwhips!!! Scotty Cranmer takes third and proves himself in a way similar to Dennis as a well-rounded rider. I would almost give Scotty the win with his diversity. Flip whips, no-handed fronties, truck drivers, everything! Brandon Dosch, last event's second placer, takes fourth and Corey Bohan (the qualifying winner) takes fifth...




I told you. But was it ever in question? Sir Jamie Bestwick takes the vert event again. Simon Tabron injured himself in competition, which essentially left the podium up for grabs. Chad Kagy, who wasn't visible much in the last Dew Tour, did what I thought he would and took second place. Steve McCann takes third. Zack Warden takes fourth. And Jimmy Walker takes fifth.

If you haven't seen Bestwick's runs, go see them. Nobody goes higher, harder, faster...



When I gave you a pre-contest blog on this event, I told you to look out for Garrett Reynolds. However, I was just sort of putting him in the race against who I really thought would take it (Dhers or Cranmer). Well, Mr. Reynolds continues his dominance by beating out the Miracle Boy (Dave Mirra) who took second and Daniel Dhers getting third. Mark Webb took fourth and Dennis Enarson took fifth (a good weekend for Enarson no doubt).

This is Reynolds first Dew Tour win, and I think that is because he is competing in park here. There is no street event. But lately we have seen him riding differently and applying more air and even gnarlier combinations that go well with park judges. I don't know what to say about this kid. He's got it. Whatever "IT" is...

Dew Tour seems to be the most successful action sports event other than the obvious X Games. The Wendy's Portland stop of the tour is always an exciting one as it is sort of the West Coast stop. We here on the West Coast go bananas over an action sports event, so let's see if these athletes go bananas on their bikes for us.



Let's start with the vert ramp, considering it has an often tyrannical leader by the name of Jamie Bestwick. He has already one the first stop (Nike BMX Open) and left common vert second placer Simon Tabron maintaining his reputation. So Jamie is 10 points ahead of Tabron already but you can't count out riders such as Steven McCann, Kevin Robinson, and Chad Kagy. Some of these riders may be beaten and battered from the mega ramp at the Games and such, leaving Mr. Bestwick with even more advantage. I hate to be boring and typical and right, but Bestwick takes it again... with ease.


On to BMX Park, where the seemingly greedy Dave Mirra took the win from common park podium artist Garrett Reynolds. Dave Mirra is a go big or go home rider with in ability to capture EXACTLY what the judges are looking for. Daniel Dhers had a surprising (ly bad) result in the first event leaving him in 9th on the tour. Maybe with his new trick (the CASH ROLL) he will take this contest and redeem his tour status. Ryan Guettler and Scotty Cranmer (considered a wild card) are also big names to look out for that have been seeing podiums as of late. Remember, Cranmer took the X Games this year in a come back predicted through his riding at the Nike HB BMX Pro. HOWEVER, I still say Daniel Dhers takes it with his well-rounded runs, unless Guettler fires off a perfect run with a double backflip or Cranmer does flip whips on everything in sight...


And now for the most underrated, and my favorite, discipline on the tour... DIRT. Josh Hult opened some eyes at the first event by taking first place over big names such as Nyquist, Bohan, Enarson, Darden, Nasty, Ellis, etc. Also, Brandon Dosch took second, breaking through in the same event. So right now two new riders are sitting 1 and 2 on the tour while the top pros grind their teeth waiting for revenge. Nyquist has been known as the master of impressing judges but as Bob Dylan sings, times they are a changin...

The dirt event is sure to be full of whips. So will Hult and Dosch return to the podium or will big names such as Guettler, Ellis, Nastazio, Nyquist take him out. In my opinion, TJ Ellis is the best dirt rider right now hands down by far no contest, but why is he 8th on the tour? He's better than that! Let's see him prove it...



SCHEDULE

We will find out who takes dirt Friday the 14th, or Saturday if you are lazy...
dirt (4:30-6pm)

On Saturday we will see how Jamie Bestwick wins... :D
vert (7-8:30pm)

Last but in no way least we will see the park winner on Sunday...
park (1-3pm)

BMX Vert. Jamie Bestwick. I think you got the idea. A 98. I think you got the idea. Simon Tabron said they "were all competing for second place." Funny because it was a) true and b) he got second. Chad Kagy took the bronze in vert and honorable mention is BMX legend Dennis McCoy taking fifth.

Scotty Cranmer takes this year's (super) park event. The return of Cranmer. We saw it coming in the Nike event, which was Scotty's first major competition back where he was whippin' and flippin' everything. Regardless, he takes first with a variety of tricks that made my head spin, confusing me, makes me tired.

Diogo Canina takes silver and Gary Young takes bronze. Ryan Guettler takes fourth. And Corey Bohan takes fifth. Lots of amazing riding from amazing riders. Nothing short of what you expect at these X Games. Daniel Dhers lands in a rather disappointing sixth place. It seems he wasn't feeling the course. It was a unique set-up but nobody expected Daniel to let go of a podium spot because of it.

X Games 15 is in the books. I am sure the riders are partying and celebrating the festivities or, as I would suggest, sitting in a jacuzzi resting their bones. Once more, Jamie Bestwick does his thing again to win vert. Scotty Cranmer comes back on the contest scene and takes (super) park. The street discipline goes to Garrett Reynolds again after an all around stunning performance. And Kevin Robinson takes the big air event even with guys like Anthony Napolitan doing double frontflips (never done before) and a host of other impossibly difficult tricks.

Check the BMX page for videos, photos, and any more updates from X Games 15...

STREET:
Garrett Reynolds took street prelims. Pretty much no surprise... however, Nathan Williams took second (I am stoked), Van Homan follows up, and the rest of the finals qualifiers are Ty Morrow (holy ***** watch this dude), Corey Martinez, and Brian Kachisnky.

I didn't hear of Ty's entry this year but now that he is in he is a huge factor in the street comp. He does things nobody else does and impresses the hell out of people (meaning the judges). This is a hot list of finalists and should make for a wild competition with some bangers being thrown... no doubt. Stay tuned.

PARK:
Bummed the prelims took so long. I hope the judges and riders aren't worn out on the X Games already. Regardless, the park results finally came in. Here's the scoop...

Gary Young took first in the prelims, which blindsided me. We all know Gary is good, has amazing style, and can take a fall, but let's look at the guys following Gary (Rob Darden, Scotty Cranmer, Jerry Smith, Chase Hawk, and Ryan Guettler). My lord do I have things to say...

First off, WHO is JERRY SMITH? Jeremiah? That would make sense. Who calls him Jerry? Also, Chase hawk?! FINALLY! I was just talking about him yesterday, saying how bummed his riding isn't recognized in competition because of his lack of tailwhips and barspins. Good. Cranmer is back on it too. This could be bad for people enjoying the contest life while he was out with an injury.

Daniel Dhers is said to have taken some hits in practice, breaking a frame in the process. But he's back and qualified for the finals. Wouldn't be a contest without him. other close qualifiers are Diogo Canina, Dennis Enarson, and Corey Bohan.