Ten of the world’s top amateur vert skaters competed for X Games Gold today in an exciting, fast-paced competition full of 540s, flip tricks, and multiple 900 attempts.

Sam Beckett, last year’s silver medal winner in the X Games Skateboard Vert Am competition, tried his best to take the title, but suffered from a heavy slam in the finals, which allowed 14-year-old Sam Bosworth to edge him out for the win.

“This place is insane! I can’t even speak,” exclaimed gold medalist Bosworth, who travelled to the competition from Cornwall, Britain. “Where I come from it rains every day, so getting used to the heat here was really hard. I didn’t think I could win, but I did my best. It feels amazing!”

Pedro Barros, 14, from Brazil skated strong all day, earning himself the bronze.


Skateboard Vert Am Final Results
 
 Final Results from the Skateboard Vert Am competition held at The Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, Calif. on July 31, 2009.
 
 
        Name/Rank            Hometown                   Score   
 1.    Sam Bosworth        Cornwall, Britain            85.00
 2.    Sam Beckett           Norwich, Britain            76.00
 3.    Pedro Barros           Florianopolis, Brazil       73.00
 4.    Ronaldo Gomes       Sao Paulo, Brazil           69.00
 5.    Italio Penarrubia      Sao Paulo, Brazil           61.00




Photos Laura Austin