The Toyota Challenge Skate Vert Prelims gave fans a clear preview of what to expect for Sunday nights Finals big moves, fast skating and a continued aerial assault on the Dew Tour vert ramp. But as with Fridays Skate Park Prelims, something was a little different this time around; Shaun White was off snowboarding in Chile for Burton, Bob Burnquist was skating with a broken toe, and those who couldnt put it together at previous stops picked up the pace in order to get ahead of the pack.

Things kicked off with solid skating in Heat 1 from the likes of Swedens
Mathias Ringstrom with half-cab blunts to fakie on the extension, Lincoln Uedas lofty FS stalefishes and tech wizard Andy Macdonalds consistent varial flips over the channel which set the tempo for all. Vans® Invitational champ Sandro Dias also came in hot with dialed runs and huge 540s, lightning-fast FS disasters and even threw in an amazing and sky-high gnar-jar for good measure. Based on his skating today, he hasnt slowed down a bit since Portland and clearly is coming to win again in San Jose.

The guys in Heat 2 didnt disappoint either with absolutely flawless consecutive runs from Chris Gentry, Tas Pappas (who landed the only 720 of the event), Rob Lorifice, Rune Glifberg and Anthony Furlong. With clean fakie-to-fakie 540s, BS 5-0 to tailslides and the most technical flip tricks locked and loaded, it seemed almost impossible for anything to go wrong during their runs. Heavy hitters Bob Burnquist and Bucky Lasek also took no prisoners with lethal switch tricks, BS ollie to tailslides over the channel and enough confidence during their runs to last a lifetime.

Aside from the obvious big moves that are always seen during Dew Tour, the most notable trick of the day was no doubt the Caballerial; which was busted by many of the skaters due to the attendance by the one and only Steve Caballero. Sitting down in the VIP area to check out the action, it was a fitting tribute to one of the most important people to ever step foot on a skateboard. All of the guys competing owe so much to Steve and it was no doubt a truly moving moment of the event.

When it was all said and done, Bucky Lasek killed the competition and took first with an 86.75, Burnquist narrowly took second with an 86.50, and Brazilian airman Sandro Dias took third with an 85.25. Others who made the top 12 for the Finals include Andy Macdonald in fourth, Pennsylvanias Buster Halterman in fifth and Aussie bulldog Tas Pappas slipping into sixth. With Sundays Skate Vert Finals set for Sunday at 1:45 PM PDT, we are surely in for quite a show and with the vert ramp ready to go, rest assured it will be nothing short of San Jose insanity.

Full Results.