Post by Man in Black on Aug 6, 2008 9:00:25 GMT -5
Legend - The Gnarly Way
Welcome to my very first edition of Athlete of the Week. There was no hesitating with this choice. [[Danny Way]] had me on my feet, holding my breath.
Who is Danny Way you might ask? He is the pro skateboarder that jumped the [[Great Wall of China]]. But that's not why he's the man this week. No, that is so three years ago.
Here's the scene: [[X Games]] 14, Way makes his second run of five in the Big Air competition. He clears the gap then launches off the giant ramp (yep, same one [[Jake Brown]] took that nasty slam on last year). Way lost control and caught both shins on the lip as he fell from what seemed like the rafters of the Staples Center. He flipped and slammed hard on his back.
I honestly thought he broke both legs when I first saw it. The medical staff looked at him for a quite a few minutes before Way did something miraculous... he walked away. Back in the locker room the doctors told him he had a broken ankle. He then proceeded to tell them they'd have to fight to keep him off his board and that he would finish all his runs.
I couldn't believe it and could barely watch as Danny Way dropped in for his third run. He landed the sweetest back flip to 540 you will ever see and moved into 1st place. I sat on my couch astounded... the only thing I could say was holy sh*t!
Pretty amazing stuff if the story ended here. It doesn't. Way came into view for his fourth run and the crowd was insane. The other skaters, all close friends, watched in awe. Even Jake Brown, known for the greatest slam of all time, was in disbelief. "The craziest thing I have ever seen," he said.
Way over rotated a varial 540 and smacked his head so hard his helmet was on sideways and appeared to be knocked out for several anxious minutes. Again Way staggered to his feet and wobbled off to prepare for his fifth and final run.
The other competitors kept laying down run after spectacular run, seemingly stepping it up in honor of their friend and hero. "Danny just changed the program by taking the gnarliest slams and getting back up," Brown said, clearly proud of his buddy.
As Way readied himself for the last run I was truly scared for the man. But, with two busted feet, a concussion and a heroically big heart, he landed a back flip to varial 540 to take over first place.
It matters little that Way's friend and band mate [[Bob Burnquist]] won the competition with his final trick. The legend of Danny Way was cemented that night in LA... and he was voted X Games athlete of 2008.
Here's a great video recap of Danny's heroics at the 2008 Big Air event - The clip even has a high quality option.
Click this picture to see the original size and to get an
idea just how insane jumping the Great Wall really is!
idea just how insane jumping the Great Wall really is!
