It has been a tough Dew Tour season so far for Baltimore, Marylands Bucky Lasek. Although currently in the lead overall for the Dew Cup, Lasek had two second place finishes and one third place finish moving into the Toyota Challenge and had yet to come up with a win. However, during Sundays electric Skate Vert Finals at the HP Pavilion, the tides finally turned in Buckys favor as he stepped up the pace and finally walked away with his first win of the 2006 season.

Going up against Brazilian vert monsters Sandro Dias and Bob Burnquist who had flawless first runs with FS tuck-knee rodeo 540s and lofty 540 judos over the channel, Lasek knew that the big guns would have to come out in order to win. Dropping in off the extension, he scored an untouchable 91.75 on his first run and unloaded with an amazing heelflip FS gaytwist, his patented BS ollie to tailslide over the channel, FS stalefish gaytwists and even landed a super-tech nollie flip to fakie to take the lead. Following his run, he was beaming from ear-to-ear and knew he had finally nailed a first place run.

Many tried to step it up during their second runs, including Tas Pappas who slammed hard on a 720, Rune Glifberg who stuck an insane kickflip BS lipslide, and Buster Halterman who landed the super-difficult sugarcane; invented by the legendary vert skater Chris Miller who was in attendance at the bottom of the ramp. After slams by Dias on a gnar-jar attempt and Burnquist on a 900 attempt in their second runs, the deal was officially sealed for Lasek who came to San Jose desperately looking to win. Electing to take his second run although it was a done deal, even Lasek took a swing at the 900 and almost stuck it he landed with both feet on his board but unfortunately slid out in the flat. Regardless, he was officially the Toyota Challenge champ and for him, that was all that mattered.

I came into it differently this time around, Lasek said of his win. I knew that I couldnt do my safety run if I wanted to win. As he was presented with the trophy in front of hundreds of screaming fans, The Verves Bittersweet Symphony came over the PA a fitting conclusion to the final event of the Toyota Challenge.

Congrats Bucky on your first win of the season!

Full Results

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Bucky Lasek     Sandro Dias     Bob Burnquist