August 1 - 4       Cleveland, OH

In what was described as "the best vert contest ever from skateboarding, BMX or inline" by NBC commentator Kenan Harken, Marc Englehart pulled off a big upset by winning the Gravity Games gold medal on vert. Englehart's second run was flawless and jammed-packed with a variety of difficult and progressive tricks. He started his run with a huge 900 over a 10 foot gap followed up by his signature 1080, several technical grinds, spins and airs, and a 540 flatspin disaster revert 360 in to finish the run.

Marc Englehart reacts as he is told that he just won Gravity Games Gold.

Englehart became the first American since 1997 to win an ASA Pro Tour vert contest, but he was not the only US born skater to shine. Matt Lindy, a little more than a year after becoming the first skater to land a double back-flip, turned the crowd upside down by throwing the first-ever TRIPLE BACK FLIP. Matt had never tried the trick (now appropriately called "the Triple Lindy") on an actual ramp before, but the awesome vibe from the event gave him energy to push himself and progress the sport once more.

Matt Lindy after throwing the first-ever triple-back flip.

Lindy's triple-back was just one of the amazing stunts thrown down by the best vert skaters in the world. Shane Yost landed a forward 1260 in his run for only the second time. Taig Khris did the first-ever DOUBLE FLAT-SPIN, Eito Yasutoko tried (but never landed) his double back-flip 180 and Takeshi Yasutoko did about a dozen tricks at least 10 feet out.

Cesar Mora comes in fakie during his first run in the Gravity Games Finals.

In all, the contest featured everything, including huge crowds that went crazy for the rollerbladers. The vibe was so amazing that even Taïg Khris, who finished outside of the top 3 for only the 4th time in his 7 year pro career, said, "Its the first time I ever didn't finish in the top three that I am really happy. Everyone skated so good and it was a great day for the sport."

Nel Martin soars above the crowd on his way to an impressive 5th place finish.

It was a tough assignment for the judges to determine placement in an event where seemingly everyone stepped it up. But as Shane Yost said, "everyone gives the judges crap, but today the judges got it all right". That quote came from someone who took third place despite landing a perfect 1260 in the beginning of a great run that included about 15 tricks. That says it all about the level of skating in one of rollerblading's best nights.

NBC commentator and former pro rollerblader, Pat Parnell, said the contest made him proud to be a rollerblader.

The Gravity Games Medalists.