X Games 13: Cole Keeps Gold In Skateboard Street Men's Final
Aug 04 2007 / Los Angeles, CA
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Win Marks Cole’s Third Straight Medal In Event, Second Consecutive Win
Chris Cole, the reigning champ in the Skateboard Street Men's event, turned in a superb performance – which included 96.75-worthy third run, the highest single score of the day – to once again come home with the gold over stiff competition from Greg Lutzka.
Representing Levittown, PA, Cole was all but flawless today at ESPN X Games 13. He wowed spectators at The Home Depot Center with two early runs of 93.50 and 92.75, then turned up the heat as, going into his third run and slightly trailing Lutzka, he stuck a kick flip back lick (on the rail) and a grapefruit grind (on the flat bar) to score an eye-popping 96.75.
“These guys are so good – I was worried all the way to the very end,” Cole said. “Each year this competition gets better. Last year the course was great, and this year it was even better. The tricks just presented themselves.”
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Lutzka landed a flip switch 270° in zone two to net a 96.25 on his second run and put serious heat on the reigning champ. Afterwards Lutzka remarked, “Today I was trying to throw down tricks I’ve never done before. I was really stoked to land the flip switch.” He added, “I am totally cool with second place.”
Jereme Rogers took the bronze, and 17-year-old skating phenom Ryan Sheckler landed in fourth with an 87.16.
Men's Skateboard Street Final Results:
Final standings from the ESPN X Games 13 Women’s Skateboard Street competition held at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA on August 3, 2007.
Name / Hometown / Score
1. Chris Cole / Levittown, PA / 94.33
2. Greg Lutzka / Huntington Beach, CA / 93.41
3. Jereme Rogers / Boston, MA / 87.41
4. Ryan Sheckler / San Clemente, CA / 87.16
5. Tommy Sandoval / Chula Vista, CA / 86.25
6. Paul Rodriguez / Northridge, CA / 86.00
7. Mark Appleyard / Burlington, Ontario, Canada / 84.91
8. Eric Koston / Los Angeles, CA / 82.75
9. Andrew Reynolds / Hollywood, CA / 80.50
10. Nick Dompierre / New Bedford, MA / 78.41
Skate Street Selection Session Coverage
Nine Advance; Will Take On Cole In Friday’s Final
Today at the ESPN X Games 13 Skateboard Street Men’s Selection Session, Mark Appleyard posted a 94.25 – the highest score of the day – to zoom from fourth to first place and secure his position in the finals.
Appleyard earned his big number in zone three of the course, which features stairs and rails. He advances to the finals along with eight of the 18 other skaters, including X Games 11 Street Men’s gold medalist Paul Rodriguez and 17-year-old phenom Ryan Sheckler.
Each will be trying to best the reigning Street Men’s gold medalist, Chris Cole. Cole dominated the Street Men’s competition at last year’s X Games 12, earning perfect 100s from two of the judges on his way to the gold. He was a bronze medalist at X Games 11’s Street Men’s and also that year (2005) was named Thrasher magazine’s Skater of the Year.
The Street Men’s Final will be held Friday at 12:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center.
The standings going into the finals are:
1. Chris Cole / Levittown, Pennsylvania
2. Mark Appleyard / Burlington, Ontario, Canada
3. Eric Koston / Los Angeles, California
4. Paul Rodriguez / Northridge, California
5. Greg Lutzka / Huntington Beach, California
6. Jereme Rogers / Boston, Massachusetts
7. Ryan Sheckler / San Clemente, California
8. Tommy Sandoval / Chula Vista, California
9. Nick Dompierre / New Bedford, Massachusetts
10. Andrew Reynolds / Hollywood, California
--Press Release
