..By LAURA BORDEN
..Special to AllAroundPhilly.com

Gagnon attempted the same trick nearly 20 times during a 30-minute span before he successfully completed it during the skateboard vert best trick competition. His Heel Flip McTwist was good enough to earn his second gold medal of the X Games.

"It's one of my hardest tricks," said Gagnon, a Montreal native. "I've landed it a couple times before. I really wanted to do that trick first."

Gagnon attempted more tricks after finally completing the Heel Flip McTwist, but did not complete them in the allotted 45 minutes set for the athletes.

The second gold medal came a little more easily for Gagnon, who won the skateboard vert event Friday. The best trick competition is less regulated and more fun for most of the athletes.

"It's more like a regular session, but it's in front of a bigger crowd," said Gagnon. "It's like when you're playing around with the guys. You keep on going until you make it."

Gagnon explained that the event is more like shooting for a highlight reel, rather than actually completed a 45 second routine.

Sandro Diaz, of Santo Andre, Brazil, had a more consistent 45 minutes, hitting several tricks. Although only the best trick counts for each athlete, his performance was good enough to earn a silver medal.

Crowd favorite Tony Hawk also hit his tricks well enough to finish in third, but impressed the crowd the most after the 45 minutes was complete. Hawk, along with the other skaters, continued to entertain the crowd for nearly 15 minutes after the clock stopped. Many were determined to complete their tricks, but not all succeeded.

Hawk was determined to show the crowd a 360 Varial McTwist, which he had never done before. He pleaded with the announcer to give him one more chance before the medal stands were placed on the vert ramp.

"I never finished it," said Hawk. "I've been trying it on and off for about three or four years. I started working on it more the last couple of weeks. I never got so close that I knew I was going to do it. I don't care (that it was after time was completed). I would have been disappointed if I left here without doing it."

Hawk said it would have been an even bigger blow to his ego had he not made it because he will be able to complete the trick in the next version of his video game.

Bob Burnquist had a rough time on the ramp, appearing to be injured several times. However, he never stopped his runs and finally completed a trick after the 45 minutes were up.

Matt Dove, last year's gold medallist, also left without a medal. Originally, he was asked not to return to the competition due to last year's controversy in which he blasted ESPN. At X Games VII, he completed a trick after time ran out, but asked for it to be counted. Although it appeared as if Burnquist should have won, Dove was given the title.

As a defending champion, the rulebook states that he has the right to return. However, he was told he must write a letter of intention to World Cup Skateboarding if he wished to participate again. He obliged and was allowed to compete in the event after he had a meeting with administrators.

"I basically wanted to make (an ollie 540 shove-it) that I had been working on," said Dove. "I was on it twice and should have made it. I might come back next year. It all depends on if I have something to try."

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