Pappas Snags Vert Win From Dias

Nov 06 2006 / Dallas, TX The Aussie wins! Tas Pappas squeaked by Sandro Dias and Andy Macdonald in a nailbiting tiebreaker that didn’t get resolved until the final run of the night. Each skater had three runs to prove themselves worthy of the $30,000 1st place prize, but in the end it was Pappas’ big 720’s and technical kickflip variations that pushed him over the edge for the win. 

Pappas came to Dallas after recently injuring his left ankle. No one was sure how the Aussie from Melbourne would do or whether his injury would hold him back. But, any questions about his health were quickly dismissed after Saturday’s Finals. Pappas has had a great year with a win at the LG Tour in Amsterdam, a 2nd place finish in Virginia and a 3rd place finish in Birmingham. He also landed a 2nd place finish at the Dew Tour in Orlando.

 

Sandro Dias had the biggest runs of the night from the get-go, but ultimately lost to Pappas. Dias threw down a couple of monstrous runs with airs well into the 8-foot mark. He uncorked his patented Brazilian energy and launched a barrage of 540’s including his signature Gnar Jar, a 540 to an earth-shaking tail tap. Sandro Dias has been dominant all year long with a win at X Games, a win at the LG Tour in Virginia, and a 2nd place finish for the overall Dew Tour title. Dias is sure to come out swinging at the Finals.

In 3rd place was the ever-consistent Andy Mac. Macdonald showed everyone that you can never rule him out from a podium finish. He peppered his runs with a host of 540’s including his favorite trick, the lien rodeo 540. Macdonald also won the LG Tour in San Diego earlier this year.

Bob Burnquist finished in 4th place with some big runs on the giant halfpipe. (By the way, the LG halfpipe is 14-feet tall and has two roll-ins that start at 19 feet high.) Burnquist qualified 1st in Friday’s Prelims and looked like he might have the Finals in the bag. But, that’s the beauty of these events. You never know who’s going to come out on top. Earlier this year, Burnquist won the Dew Tour in Louisville.

PHOTO GALLERY    Check out photos of Tas Pappas and more at the LG Action Sports Tour's Skate Vert Finals View Gallery>

PLG finished in 5th followed by Buster Halterman, Mathias Ringstrom, Bucky Lasek, Jean Postec and Anthony Furlong. (Big props to Bucky for busting out Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song during his runs. Very motivational.)