Robinson had the edge through the first two of the scheduled four runs but then Dave Mirra came through with a huge 93.33 score after landing a 360 no-handed backflip over the 50-foot gap followed by a high flair.  Moments later, Kagy pulled ahead with a 94.33 thanks to a flipwhip over the 70-footer and a flatspin 540 tailwhip on the quarterpipe.  Similar to the battle between Danny Way and Bob Burnquist the night before, it came down to the final run.

Mirra went first, pulling another no-handed 360 backflip over the 70 foot gap followed by a flair whip on the quarterpipe.  The 94.66 looked strong until Kagy uncorked a back flip tail whip followed by a boosted flat whip on the quarterpipe.  The 96.00 set Staples on fire and when Kevin Robinson tried his final run a few minutes later, the end was already set.

Check out the official release below as well as all the results (there were four more riders, after all).

Chad Kagy and Dave Mirra Battle for the BMX Big Air Gold

Kagy Goes Deep into his Bag of Tricks to Take First
LOS ANGELES- There was no holding back from the competitors in tonight’s BMX Big Air final as the riders progressively stepped up the difficulty and height after each run and pushed each other’s limits.

It all came down to the wire during the final of four runs. Mirra was holding the top position with a score of 94.66 from a no-handed 360 backflip over the 70 foot gap to a lofty, flair whip on the quarterpipe, but was knocked down to second place when Kagy dropped into the ramp for his final run just moments later.

All eyes in the stadium turned to Kagy as he launched off the gap jump into a back flip tail whip and then layed out a boosted flat whip on the quarterpipe, earning a score of 96.00 and clenching the gold medal.

Kagy may have won the gold, but his respect went to Mirra. “Mirra surprised the heck out of me. Good job, Dave. He was motivated to do this the right way and it pushed me.”

Trailing in third place behind Kagy and Mirra was former two-time BMX Big Air Champion Kevin Robinson who put up a good fight with a solid no-handed 360 into a no-handed 540 on the quarterpipe.

“I can go home happy with a bronze because I landed my new tricks in my second run,” said previous champion, Robinson. “The double flair in my last run didn’t work, but I’m so happy for Chad for his well deserved win tonight.”

Catch more BMX excitement tomorrow during the BMX Freestyle SuperPark and Vert starting tomorrow at 1 p.m. PT.

BMX FREESTYLE BIG AIR FINAL RESULTS
Results from ESPN X GAMES 14 at The Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calf. on Friday, August 1, 2008. (Final Standings)

Rank  – Name  – Run 1  – Run 2  – Run 3  – Run 4  – Best Run
1. Chad Kagy  – 83.00  – 83.00 – 94.33 – 96.00: 96.00
2. Dave Mirra  – 80.66 – 90.33 – 93.33 – 94.66: 94.66
3. Kevin Robinson  – 84.33 – 91.00 – 83.66 – 83.00: 91.00
4. Steve McCann  – 83.33 – 82.33 – 90.00 – 81.00: 90.00
5. Allan Cooke  – 85.33 – 87.33 – 80.66 – 89.00: 89.00
6. Morgan Wade  – 83.66  – 83.00 – 82.66 – 86.66: 86.66
7. Anthony Napolitan  – 85.00 – 83.33 – 80.66 – 83.33: 85.00

Actually some of my favorite athletes aren’t even mentioned at this year’s ESPY Awards.  Hold on; give me a second while I go onto Wikipedia.org to find out what ESPY even means.  ESPY means Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards.  I thought that it might have meant ESPN’s Sporty Prize Year, but that would be a horrible name. 

Anyway back to my favorite athletes who aren’t nominated at this year’s ESPY’s.  First of all, I don’t watch many sports so maybe I don’t know jack about athletes.  But I do know that ESPN show many World Series Of Poker episodes all day and late into the night.  My favorite athlete from the sport of Poker would have to be 2004 WSP Champion “The Fossil Man” Greg Raymer.  Sure he doesn’t have the physique of a Lebron James or even a Fernando Valenzuela, but for two years in a row, Greg outlasted a over 5,000 players winning the 2004 bracelet and coming in 25th the next year.  Not since Johnny Chan has someone come as close as Greg to repeating.  Now that’s a high level of competition. 

My next candidate would definitely be a real athlete but has no mention in the ESPY’s.  His sport isn’t even mentioned in the ESPY’s (I think).  This athlete’s name is Mariusz Pudzianowski of Poland and his sport is a variety of events called “The World’s Strongest Man Competition” where the world’s largest men compete in such events like “The Keg Toss” or “The Car Carry”.  These events don’t need any explaining.  Any Mariusz has dominated the sport winning in four of the last six years.  I’m sure Tom Brady can’t throw a 50 lb keg over a 14’6” wall. 

But the ESPY’s have semi redeemed themselves by adding “extreme sports” to the list of nominees.  I’m sure now the award ceremony will be worth watching.  Maybe they may do something quirky like have Shaun White present an award with Reggie Bush.  I don’t know.  Well while I have caught your attention, why not check out the press release below to see which of your favorite extreme athletes will be presented at this year’s ESPY Awards. 

ESPN X Games Athletes Nominated For 16TH Annual ESPYs
 
Three Olympians Nominated for Best Action Sports Athletes; BMX High Air
World Record Holder and Women’s Motocross Champion Named as Nominees
 
Eight of the top performers from the X Games and Winter X Games are
nominated for the16th annual ESPYs which will be televised Sunday, July 20,
at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and available in high definition on ESPN HD. The 2008
ESPYs presented by HUMMER announce the stars of the X Games who are
nominated in the Best Male Action Sport Athlete and Best Female Action Sport
Athlete categories.
 
First-time ESPY nominee and BMX champion, Kevin Robinson will be making his
13th X Games appearance this year.   “My dad always taught me to finish what
you start, and I am far from finished,” said the seven-time X Games
medalist. “Thanks X Games for believing in me for the past 14 years. This
ESPY nomination is a huge honor.”
 
The ESPY nominees for Best Action Sport Athlete are:
 
BEST MALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE NOMINEES
 
Shaun White, Skateboarding & Snowboarding
Fourteen-time Winter and X Games medalist and 2006 Olympic gold medalist,
Shaun White is the first X Games athlete to win gold in both summer and
winter events for X. Most recently, White won his first gold last year in
the Skateboard Vert competition.
 
Chad Reed, Motocross
X Games Bronze medalist, Chad Reed dominated the 2008 AMA SuperCross circuit
winning nine races and earning the overall AMA World Champion.  Reed will be
making his fifth X Games appearance this summer.
 
Kevin Robinson, BMX
Seven-time X Games medalist, Kevin Robinson was selected as X Games 13 Most
Outstanding Athlete by defending his Gold Medal on the BMX Big Air ramp.
Robinson recently made headlines with his high air world record in Central
Park – landing a new record of 27 feet.
 
Kevin Pearce, Snowboarding
Two-time Winter X Games medalist, Kevin Piece is an accomplished snowboarder
who won the Arctic
Challenge in 2007 and Burton European Open in 2008.
 
BEST FEMALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE NOMINEES
 
Gretchen Bleiler, Snowboarding
Four-time Winter X Games medalist and 2006 Olympic silver medalist, Gretchen
Bleiler is the reigning champion in SuperPipe winning gold at the 2008
Winter X Games. Bleiler finished the 2007 FIS World Cup standings in 5th,
and the Grand Prix standing in 3rd. 
 
Jessica Patterson, Motocross
Making her first X Games appearance this year, Jessica Patterson will
compete in the debut of women’s Moto X Racing. Patterson won the 2007
Women’s Motocross Association title and over her career has won 27 National
Championships.
 
Lindsey Jacobellis, Snowboarding
Six-time Winter X Games medalist and 2006 silver medalist dominated the
boardercross circuit this season including gold at the 2008 Winter X Games.
Jacobellis won her second consecutive SBX World Championship in 2007.
 
Stephanie Gilmore, Surfing
X Games Silver medalist, Steph Gilmore made her first X Games appearance
last year. The 19 year-old from Australia became the first surfer ever to
win an ASP world title in rookie season as well as recorded four Elite Tour
victories in 2007.
 

All video courtesy Red Bull.

• Big-wave surfer Milton Willis involved in a car crash, killing his passenger
• Have you heard of the documentary D.O.P.E. (Death or Prison Eventually)? It’s about skateboarders Jay Adams, Christian Hosoi, Dennis Martinez and Bruce Logan.
• Deaf motocross racer Ashley Fiolek wins her second event of the season.
• Catch up with Blake “Bilko” Williams, the FMX rider who could challenge Nate Adams at this year’s AST Dew Tour.
• In eight months Oakley has raised $1 million for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Not bad.
• Did you see Tony Hawk on “Million Dollar Password” last night? Me neither.
• More about “cyclist” Kevin Robinson’s quest for a world record.
• Check out Scotty Cranmer’s new signature shoe for Vans.

You might recall the first “Experiment,” captured live on ESPN on New Year’s Eve. It featured Robbie Maddison breaking Evel Knievel’s distance record. Unfortunately you won’t be able to watch this one live on your big screen TV, but you can watch it online at either EXPN and ESPN360.com. I’m told there will be some exclusive K-Rob stuff posted the day before. We’ll be looking.

Here’s more about the jump…

Red Bull is taking over Central Park on June 12 to see if Kevin Robinson can break Mat Hoffman’s height record on a quarterpipe of 50.5 ft. in the second “Red Bull Experiment.” You may recall the first “Experiment” took place on New Year’s Eve and featured Robbie Maddison’s record-breaking distance jump on a motorcycle (since beaten by Maddison himself down under).

Robinson’s attempt will take place on a 60ft high roll-in and up a 27 foot Super Quarter Pipe and his goal is to reach at least 27 feet over the ramp to break the record.

Two days after the event, Robinson is hosting the Kevin Robinson Innovational, in which other riders will get their chance on the ramp and quarterpipe.

No word in the press release, but I believe ESPN is televising the event — if they aren’t, they should.

Check out the poster right here and then read the press release following. Gotta love how the press release knows K-Rob isn’t a big enough name so it says “Man Will Attempt to Soar Above NYC Skyline in a Single Bound”

World Record Attempt — Central Park, New York City
Man Will Attempt to Soar Above NYC Skyline in a Single Bound…

SANTA MONICA, CA–(Marketwire – May 15, 2008) – On Thursday, June 12th, 2008 in the heart of New York City, BMX legend Kevin Robinson will attempt to soar into the world record books by clearing the height of a six story building on a BMX bike, in the next Red Bull Experiment.

Kevin is the winner of seven X Games medals, including three gold. He will make his attempt on a never before built Super Quarter Pipe.

This feat is experimental in many ways — from the construction of the ramp, to the speed it will take to break the record, the g-forces on his body and ultimately what will happen when Kevin leaves the top of the ramp for the first time. Will he come back to earth safe? Will he own the world record?

Kevin will hurl himself down a 60ft high roll-in and up the 27ft Super Quarter Pipe and attempt to soar over six stories high against the back drop of the world-renowned New York City skyline. The current record of 26.5ft is held by BMX pioneer and Kevin’s mentor and sponsor Mat Hoffman.

The Red Bull Experiment will take place in Central Park on Dead Band Road (east side of Sheep’s Meadow) starting at 7pm on June 12th.

KEVIN ROBINSON

A BMX legend, he is one of only a few athletes that has competed in every X Games since the inaugural event in 1995 and since then has grown into one of the most respected action sports stars of his generation. There has been no more deserving winner of the “Most Outstanding Athlete” award than Kevin in 2007. Kevin, a committed family man with two kids, trains as hard of as any elite athlete in the world and even works out with football star Junior Seau. He also sits on the board of Junior’s foundation. It is Kevin’s confidence, hard work and dedication that allow him to attempt a feat such as this.

THE MARK TO BEAT

Hoffman first set the record in 1992 by being towed into a 21ft high ramp and soared 23ft above that, putting him 44ft above the ground. He has since improved on that record several times and the current mark stands at 26.5ft above a 24ft ramp, 50.5ft above the ground. Kevin’s Super Quarter Pipe will be 27ft high, meaning he will have to soar over 54ft above the ground and 27ft above the top of the ramp to break the world record.

THE KEVIN ROBINSON INNOVATIONAL

As a follow up to the Red Bull Experiment, Kevin will invite a collection of the world’s top pros to ride the ultimate Super Quarter Pipe and compete in the iconic setting of Central Park on Saturday, June 14th. Kevin’s vision for the Kevin Robinson Innovational was to select the best riders to compete in an environment that would stimulate the innovation and progression of BMX. The rules of what is possible on a BMX bike will be changed at the Kevin Robinson Innovational.

THE RED BULL EXPERIMENT

The Red Bull Experiment is the world’s best athletes attempting world first experimental sporting feats.

The mission of the Red Bull Experiment is to give the world’s best athletes the opportunity to push the boundaries of what might be humanly possible and push the progression of their sport to unfathomable levels. In the first Red Bull Experiment, motorcross star Robbie Maddison set his own world record for the longest jump on motorbike by jumping a football field in Las Vegas on New Years Eve, 2007, clearing a distance of 322ft.

The Red Bull Experiment provides these athletes with the tools necessary to realize their dreams and put them on show for the whole world to see. In success or failure these experiments are poised to change the way the world thinks about what is possible.

For more information including web teaser and poster art visit: www.redbullexperiment.com.

This year’s lineup includes veteran skateboarders Kevin Staab, Jesse Fritsch, Sergie Ventura, and Neal Hendrix along with some legendary BMX talent (Kevin Robinson, John Parker and Dennis McCoy) and some FMX representation (Drake McElroy, Matt Buyten, and Greg Garrison). Topping things off will be DJ Mike Relm.

In addition, the T-Mobile Sidekick was named the presenting sponsor last week, leading to rumors that a Tony Hawk-branded Sidekick is on the way. Sounds like the perfect tie-in to me.

Check out the confirmed dates (so far) below and feel free to check out the official Boom Boom Huck Jam website for everything else you’d ever want to know about this demo to end all demos.

2008 Boom Boom Huck Jam Dates

Date – City – Venue
Fri • Jul 18 – San Antonio, TX – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Sat • Jul 19 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Amphitheatre
Sun • Jul 20 – Houston, TX – Sam Houston Race Track
Wed • Jul 23 – Birmingham, AL – Verizon Wireless Music Center
Thu • Jul 24 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
Sat • Jul 26 – Harrington, DE – Delaware State Fair
Sun • Jul 27 – Boston, MA – Great Woods Amphitheater
Wed • Jul 30 – Moline, IL – I Wireless Center
Thu • Jul 31 – Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
Tue • Aug 05 – Virginia Beach, VA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Wed • Aug 06 – Washington, DC – Nissan Pavilion
Thu • Aug 07 – Long Island , NY – Nikon at Jones Beach
Fri • Aug 08 – Philadelphia, PA – Tweeter Center
Mon • Aug 11 – TBA – TBA
Wed • Aug 13 – Chicago, IL – First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Thu • Aug 14 – St Louis, MO – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Fri • Aug 15 – Kansas City, MO – Kemper Arena
Sat • Aug 16 – Denver, CO – Fiddlers Amphitheater
Mon • Aug 18 – Boise, ID – Idaho Center Amphitheater
Tue • Aug 19 – Seattle, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Wed • Aug 20 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Fairgrounds
Fri • Aug 22 – San Jose, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sat • Aug 23 – San Diego, CA – Qualcomm Stadium
Sun • Aug 24 – Irvine, CA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre