The AST China Invitational kicked off today in Beijing with the Skate Vert Finals and Best Trick competition. Many of the top skate vert athletes from the AST Dew Tour were on hand like heavy hitters Andy Macdonald and Pierre-Luc Gagnon, and young guns Alex Perelson and Adam Taylor.

Every skater packed a heavy bag of tricks for China. Sandro Dias nailed a kickflip to invert, Macdonald was throwing down multiple switch 720s, and Perelson threw in a ton of variations and landed multiple 540s. But it was Canadas PLG that was in fine form and absolutely killed it on the vert ramp.

From his first drop-in, PLG was landing huge tricks like a switch frontside heel flip 360 and multiple 540s. Even with first place wrapped up by his third run with a score of 91.75, PLG dropped in for the cheering Chinese fans and put together solid victory run.

Skate vert veteran Macdonald placed second with 89.50, and rounding out the top three was 18 year-old Taylor. By Taylors final run he nailed the switch cab heel flip giving him a score of 78.50 and bumping Dias from the third place position. This marked Taylors first podium finish at an AST event.

"Im stoked to be on the podium for the first time at an AST event," said Taylor. "This is an awesome start to the year and a big step for me. I hope to get more finishes like this throughout 2008.

Capping off the first day of competition was the Best Trick contest, and everyone was going big. Jean Postec was attempting switch to 900s and Rune Glifberg almost landed a kickflip backside lipside. The competition was fierce, with each guy trying to get as much time on the vert ramp as they could within the 30-minute window.

When the buzzer sounded it was Macdonald who placed third, smoothly landing a nollie heel varial body variel slob grab. Known for the kickflip McTwist, Nebraskas Danny Mayer captured second with backside 360 kickflip melon. After several attempts, birthday boy Sandro Dias had the stadium and his fellow skaters on their feet when he landed the first-ever 900 in China.

"Landing the 900 was the greatest birthday gift I could give to myself, said Dias. Im looking forward to trying the 900 throughout the 2008 AST Dew Tour season.

Below are the results from Skate Vert Finals:
1. Pierre-Luc Gagnon
2. Andy Macdonald
3. Adam Taylor
4. Sandro Dias
5. Alex Perelson
6. Buster Halterman
7. Anthony Furlong
8. Rune Glifberg
9. Jean Postec
10. Danny Mayer

Skate Vert Best Trick:
1. Sadro Dias
2. Danny Mayer
3. Andy Macdonald