..By Paul Moser
..Special to AllAroundPhilly.com

Dave Mirra, a vert legend in his own right, earned his second straight gold with a 94.4. Simon Tabron pulled a bronze-medal run with a 90.8.

Who finished first was secondary, however. As anyone - Mirra included - will attest, the real trick of the night and perhaps a career was Hoffman's first no-handed 900.

"These contests bring out the best," Mirra admitted in awe. "Mat's no-handed 900 was pretty sick, that's the trick of the year right there. He set a mark in history tonight -- a no-handed 900. That's awesome."

Breaking new ground is nothing new for Hoffman, the 29-year-old is the inventor of over 50 tricks and considered the father of modern-day vert riding. He was the first, and only, rider to ever perform a 900. Logically, he would be the first to do the move without hands on the bike's bars.

"The X Games was just a stage to challenge myself on," Hoffman said. "That was a trick that I didn't ever think was possible. You know, the beauty of the sport is that you can make things reality."

That's what Hoffman's career has been about. Entering the riding scene in his teenage years, Hoffman has been BMX riding's version of Tony Hawk -- revolutionizing the sport athletically and financially.

Owner of Hoffman bikes, promoter of two tours and sponsor of his own team - an unheard of accomplishment before he began riding -- Hoffman is undoubtedly the most important man in BMX riding and perhaps action sports.

That's why when 14-year-veteran said he would retire a year ago in the same competition it was hard to believe.

"You don't retire. You might do so from competition but the sport is a way of life," Hoffman said. "The sport is a way you express yourself, it's art."

Though fans may be happy Hoffman will not hang it up any time soon, at least for exhibitions it seems, his loved ones may be an entirely different story. While admitting she wants Hoffman to do what makes him happy, Hoffman's wife, Jaci, is always concerned about her constantly injured husband.

"My hands were shaking during the contest," Jaci Hoffman said. "I worry a lot about his health. But I want him to ride and be happy as long as he can."

For the fans, hopefully that will be for a long time.

"My instincts have been my guide," Hoffman said. "I'm not interested in competition but stages like this that let me throw down everything with a lot of people supporting you. It's a great vibe and you do things you don't normally do."

Doing what he always does was Mirra who continued his domination of the vert scene with a technically superb run that equated to his 14th X Games medal.

"My first run was great," Mirra said. "I just wanted to come out on top."

He did, in the standings anyway. An older rider beat him to the punch in the fans and athletes' minds.

"I've been dreaming about it for three weeks now," Hoffman said of his no-handed 900. "It's been spinning in my head and I felt it and it's a nice way to translate it."

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