Karen Jones Wins Women’s Skate Vert Gold at X Games 14
August 3, 2008 – 1:00 am PT by GregTags: Karen Jones, Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins, Mimi Knoop, X Games —
Brazil’s Karen Jones has been the talk of women’s vert for a while now, especially since competing against the men at X Games Brazil earlier this year. She hadn’t been able to compete at too many contests in the U.S. so Saturday’s finals were her chance to show her skills to the stateside audience. Last year’s gold medalist, Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins, put on a good fight but could only end up in second with the silver while Mimi Knoop took the bronze.
Keep reading for a recap of the finals and the full results.
A New Champion Comes Up In the Ranks
LOS ANGELES- Saturday’s events kicked off this morning in front of a sold out crowd at The Home Depot Center with the ladies of Skateboard Vert. The lineup was fierce with the likes of Cara-Beth Burnside, Karen Jones, Mimi Knoop and last year’s reigning champ Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins.Karen Jones has been furtively coming up though the ranks of Women’s Skateboard Vert with respectable finishes in X Games 12 and 14. At the international X Games in Brazil this year, she made a brave move and opted to compete against the men, placing 18th to the admiration of everyone.
The jam session here at X Games 14 proved to be Jones’ time to shine. “This is the first time I’ve won anything, ever. I’m so, so happy.”
Jones went on to say, “In practice Mimi and Lyn-Z were killing it so I knew I would have to land every trick to beat them.” Jones’ gold medal worthy tricks included the technical varial mute, a finger flip and a lolli-pop shuv-it.
Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins wasn’t about to give up her title without a fight. She rode hard throughout the session sticking the landing on her kickflip indy and boosting above the coping for unmatched amplitude.
“It went really well. Everyone was skating so good and pushing each other,” Lyn-Z said about the jam session. In the end Lyn-Z landed herself in the second place position on the podium.
Last year’s silver medalist Mimi Knoop also gave up her position to make room for Jones but was happy with the bronze. “The girls were skating at an all time high for vert ladies. The air felt different this year. It was way more competitive. The fire was lit. It was good just to get on the podium with that pool of girls.”
SKATEBOARD VERT WOMEN’S FINAL RESULTS
Results from ESPN X GAMES 14 at The HOME DEPOT Center in CARSON, Calf. on Saturday, August 2, 2008. (Final Standings)
Name / Hometown
1. Karen Jones / Santo Andre, Brazil
2. Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins / Cardiff by the Sea, Calif.
3. Mimi Knoop / Chesapeake, Va.
4. Cara-Beth Burnside / Encinitas, Calif.
5. Gaby Ponce / Tenafly, N.J.
6. Julie Kindstrand / Santa Ana, Calif.
7. Allysha Bergado / El Segundo, Calif.
8. Annie Sullivan / San Diego, Calif.
