Vert is Dead. Long Live the SuperPark

Apr 04 2008 / Los Angeles, CA
So, I hope you weren't looking forward to watching Shaun White land the first-ever 1080 at the X Games this summer. For the first time in the history of the Games, there won't be a stand-alone vert ramp. That means no more Skate Vert, no more BMX Vert... In their place will be two new events: BMX and Skate SuperPark: Apparently just a park course with some vert elements (translation: a roll-in and a quarterpipe). And since there will be a BMX SuperPark, that means there won't be a BMX Park anymore -- instead, BMX Street will join Skate Street.

Ah, the humanity. You can read the release here.

Let's check out some of the reaction from the official website of the X Games, EXPN:

- "It's time. It's been time. ESPN's always a little slow on the uptake. It's no secret that the vert field has stayed the same for the last decade. It's no secret that there aren't any vert ramps for kids to ride outside Southern California. If you want a vert career, you have to move there," says X Games General Manager Chris Stiepock. We say: "Shaun White, Alex Perelson, PLG. Yep, it's not much, but it's something."
- "I don't really rely on vert. I love to do it, but for me personally, there's so much other stuff out there. I can see why they're doing it—to reinvent the whole thing, which will be really good." - Omar Hassan. We say: "If there's pool in this 'SuperPark' we know you're down. with it"
- "I'm not just going to let vert go. Adding park is good, but they shouldn't replace vert. They're two different events. Vert is a stepping-stone to the Megaramp. How will we secure a future for Megaramp?" - Pierre Luc Gagnon. We say: "Don't think ESPN didn't already count on that. Less training on the Megaramp = more Jake Brown moments = worldwide press coverage = money."
- "There are tricks you can do on a vert ramp that you can't do anywhere else. I can promise you there will be no 900s going on on the Superpark course—guaranteed... The solution is a format change. Change it to a jam format so there are guys skating for a half hour straight and it's not like a golf match. The execs at ESPN want to do away with the one discipline in all the sports that's been there since day one, stood the test of time and contained every big moment in X Games history. The 900, Mat Hoffman's no-handed 900 and Kevin Robinson's double flair were all on the vert ramp. They're blowing it, and we're going to miss out on those moments." says Andy Macdonald. We say "Amen."

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's remember a few things: 1. BMX Dirt was banished from the X Games in 2007 and there doesn't seem to be any downturn in that. 2. The AST doesn't appear to have any plans to remove Vert from its lineup. Never say never, though. 3. The new Maloof Money Cup is paying $75K for the winner of its Pro Vert contest (plus they win a SUV). If I know my math, that's about $25K plus a car more than the X Games pays out.
So while Vert is dead at the X Games, it's not dead everywhere else.