© Jared Souney

K Rob Doesn't Hold Back

If we’re being honest, with the BMX field at the Action Sports USA Championships, the contest wasn’t so much for first, as it was for second through tenth. With Simon Tabron absent, there was really no one else who posed a challenge for Kevin Robinson. That said, he easily took the win with his first run, but for him, it wasn’t as much about winning, as having fun.

“I didn’t have to try it,” Robinson said of his double flair attempt, “but I wanted to. I want to progress the sport and put on a good show for the crowd. For me progressing is more important than any win.” 

This contest is definitely smaller scale than something like the Dew Tour or the X Games, which enables riders to experiment more in their runs. Tom Stober had a great run that included a double whip into a fastplant flair, which was enough for second place. He has suffered from back problems all season, but when he puts it together like tonight he is definitely a rider to watch.

Mike Mancuso also had the night of his life. He nailed his first ever tailwhip flair in a competition. The trick helped earn him a spot on the podium (third), as well as the High Energy Award, an extra $500 given out to the rider who pulls the biggest and best trick. 

Had Robinson’s double flair attempt in his victory lap gone a little better, that award probably would have gone to him. “I almost had it. I just needed to get a hair forward,” he said.

Although he bailed, the double flair was one of the biggest pulled by Robinson to date. The mellow scene and perfect ramp probably had a lot to do with it. 

“It’s a different atmosphere here,” Robinson said. “At the (bigger events) it’s a little more cut throat. You get animosity between riders and it’s not about that for me, for me it’s always been about progressing the sport. This (event) is refreshing.”

- Check out Lat34 coverage of the LG Action Sports World Tour