I got the chance to go and check out the skate 'street finals' out, at the LG Action Sports event at the MEN, Manchester. The skating was ridiculous!!!!!

We got down onto the course as the pros were warming up and nailing some wicked lines, so their runs were looking like they were going to be insane- I wasnt far wrong!!

There were 10 skaters in the finals and they were given two runs at 1 minute each. The eventual winner was given to Wagner Ramos (Brazil). I reckon this was becuase his first run was faultless. Every trick nailed and all switch! His second run was not as sucessful but he was trying to land a switch backside heelflip frontnose on the driveway ledge as his parting shot only to get it after the time had run out. Amazing to see though.

Other 'standouts' were the 2nd placed Daniel Vieira (Brazil) with huge tre-flips, backside flips and switch frontsde flips, well over the driveway- loads of style points! The UK's own Ross McGowan was on fire in 3rd place. Ripping round the course super fast landing massive flips over the driveway, lipslides on the stair rail, huge melons over the spine bit and a very consistent backside nollieflip 270 over the hip!

Chris Dobstaff (USA)was teching it up- loads of switch stuff an ledge action in 4th. Greg Lutzka's (USA) backside tails were perfect and frontside tails 270 out so good!!He also was nailing huge switch kickflips and backside flips over the driveway to earn him a 5th.

14 year old Josh Evin (USA) gave everyone a big surprise out how good and how easy he made it all look. Getting a 6th place, he looked so cool, great style and a trick bag as big as Santa's! Think Sheckler meets Tosh Townend??? Just wait till another 4 years- man he will be solid! Saw him ripping the vert up later too- 'makes yer sick at my age I tell yas!!!'

Alex Gavin (Canada) came 7th with a good couple of runs and I thought, personally, 8th and 9th places for Chad Fernandez (USA) and Dayne Brummet (USA), respectively, was a bit miserley on the marking??? Fair enough Chad's first run was a bit unsuccessful but Jesus- his second run was nuts. Of course a few hammers were in there lipslide on the big rail and an amazing frontside noseblunt down it for good measure. Dayne Brummet's runs were both really good, using all the course and nailing loads of stuff- backside tails on the ledge, big 5050 on the big rail, krooks down the hubbas....... what the hell- he would of got better if was judging!!

In 10th place came Avi Luzia (Israel) and to show the standard, his runs were mint! If he had landed his kickflip backside 5050 in his runs he could of been higher? He did have it after though- AWESOME!

Cracking night out though- you ought to check it next time its on.

Mark