Yesterday, I made my first visit to X Games 16. If you've ever been to an X Games then you now how much is going on, and how it's happening all over the place. All I am concerned with is skateboarding, and it's still pretty complicated. You have Street and Park going on at the Staples Center. You have Big Air and Big Air Rail Jam at the Coliseum. Then, finally you have Vert going on at the Nokia Center. Then, mix in a slew of BMXers, freestyle motocrossers, rally car racers and whatever the hell else is extreme enough to make the cut, and you have a big entropic bowl of soup.

Take the Street practice for example. As skateboarding's time was winding down on the course, an army of BMX riders was forming on the outskirts. As soon as the clock struck zero a blitzkrieg of bikes with low seats, pegs and riders with face piercings and ear plugs ensued. Then there's the Big Air events at the Colesuem, as skateboarding was getting mega, there were motocross racers whipping around the ramp, and guys having a street bike burnout competition...or something, in the parking lot.

Besides, all the distractions going on around me, here's what I noticed at the three skate practices I went to: Street, Park and Big Air.

1.This year's Mega Ramp is big! You just have to see that thing in person to really understand how insane it is. It's so high the skaters get a ride in an elevater to the top, and they go so far they get rides back from dune buggies. That's when you know you're hitting a big skate ramp; when you need to bum a ride back from where it sent you.

2. The Park course looks a bit tricky to pick the right line, but when it's found look out. It's just a super cruisie, transition course with hips, gaps and coping everywhere. There's also a cool wallride glass thing that has my imagination going. Some of the standouts were: Rune Glifberg, Omar Hassan, David Gravette, Jake Duncombe and Chad Barti.

3. Sheckler's ready to rumble. From what I hear he's been skating the course all week, and when I showed up, which was pretty early, he was one of only a few guys already on it.

4. I didn't see any sign of Bastein Salabanzi on the Street course, which is a let down. It's still early, but I really hope he shows. Do it for skateboarding Bastein!

5. I found out how Bob Bournquist is so good at his grinds on the Big Air Rail. I had been helping my neighbor fix his picket fence earlier in the day, and had a pocket full of nails. As I was passing Bob in the staging area I tripped and fell and the nails went everywhere. Then, all of a sudden they all turned at once and stuck to his bottom truck...magnets! His trucks are magnetic and stick to the rail. THAT'S NOT TRUE...I only had four observations.

Adam Dyet backside lipslide. Photo: Zuccareno/Shazamm via ESPN images.

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