Burnquist, 34, who hobbled into the Los Angeles event with an array of injuries, took the lead on his second of five runs by performing a switch 180 over the 70-foot gap of the MegaRamp, then sticking a double-grab 540 he performed 20 feet above the quarterpipe wall. That earned a score of 92.66, placing him ahead of Adam Taylor.
Burnquist, who won the competition in 2007-08, matched his winning score on his fourth run with a switch
540/double-grab 540 combo (see video).Brown, 36, who had been Burnquist's nemesis for the past two years, nailing the winning run at the end of both competitions, was unable to complete a routine on either of his five runs. He fell while attempting a back-flip over the gap on his final run.
Taylor ended up in second with a score of 89.66, reaching the podium for the first time in the event. Brazil's Edgard Pereria was third (87.00).
Afterward, Burnquist said that he was just happy to have completed a scoring run on an apparatus as difficult as the MegaRamp.
It was a difficult night indeed, as only six full routines were completed -- two by Burnquist -- out of 40 attempts by the eight finalists.
As for Brusco, the youngest competitor at the X Games and only the second person ever to have landed a 900 on a MegaRamp (during practice for an event in Brazil; Burnquist was the first), he turned in an admirable fifth-place performance on the merit of a backside 360/540 combo.
Brusco, who stands only 5 feet 1 and weighs just 95 pounds, was not disappointed with his performance against the daredevil sport's luminaries. He told sideline reporter Jenn Brown: "I'm feeling good. I didn't expect to do anything; I'm just happy to be here."
Fans can expect a lot more from Brusco, nicknamed "Little Tricky," in the years to come.
-- Bob Burnquist image is courtesy of GettyImages/Harry How.
