The AST Dew Tour has rolled into Salt Lake City for the first time, and the Vert dogs kicked off the BMX portion of the event with Prelims on Thursday night. The 20 riders on the decks represent the cream of the Vert crop, and they've shown up to each new city with more tricks and higher airs. Now more than ever, the new jacks coming up in the ranks are progressing fast and changing up the results list with every comp.

Jorge Jovel basically came out of nowhere this year to shoot through Open Qualifiers and earn a spot on the Tour, and he continually proves his worth. Jason Branham threw solid flairs and 540s, but just missed the top ten. Then you have guys like Zack Warden and Steven McCann, who have some history on the Tour but are making 2007 their breakout year. Warden earns "most improved", tossing out clean double tailwhips and downside whips along with flairs and a handplant to land in eighth in Prelims. McCann entered Vert for the first time this year, but it's obvious he's put the work in to land in the top five; he did just that in SLC, qualifying third. He couldn't even take his second run, cutting out in a hurry in order to make it to Dirt Prelims, his second of three disciplines on the Tour.

Kevin Robinson nailed a huge superman, no-handed and opposite flairs, and a smattering of 540s to qualify in fourth. He was holding plenty back, so look for some fireworks out of him in the Finals. Jimmy Walker switched up his program a little, trading out carves and alley-oops for a non-stop trick attack, hitting a crapload of 540 and flair variations to finish sixth. Dennis McCoy spun a barspin 540 and held down fifth when the dust settled.

Simon Tabron in the top three is one of the surest bets around, thanks to huge airs and plenty of style. Tabletop, alley-oop, and turndown 540s are never a problem, even with the fractured left hand he's nursing here in SLC. It's looking like the solid money is now on top two these days; He sat in the top spot until Jamie Bestwick rode, which bumped him back to finish second at the end of the day.

Once again, it was Bestwick who soared double overhead above the deck, taking his already high airs into air-traffic-control range. He loves the ramp and he's psyched on the vibe that surrounded it today, and he's planning to go a lot bigger in Finals. Say what? Bestwick is on a mission to achieve contest trick combos he's been chasing for a long time, so don't miss Vert Finals on Friday. With these 10 guys all throwing down for the glory, it's going to be out of control.