Dayne Brummet is the only American competing in Skate Street down here in Brazil. I don't speak a lick of Portuguese, so this interview was destined to happen. I caught him as he took a breather just off the street course."I'm having fun out there," he said. "Right now the wood is pretty soft, so it's hard to pop our boards off. That makes all the difference. But the bikers like it, or so I've heard. The rails are okay and but we'll see how it goes—honestly I've got a hurt ankle anyway, so I'm kind of expecting to get murdered out here. That's okay though—I'm having a good time.""A few guys are definitely skating well," Dayne pointed out. "pThis guy Milton [Martinez] is really killing it. So is Klaus [Bohms]. There was one guy from Germany [Alex Mizurov] who rolled around one time and went right back to the airport, I think. I'm pretty sure I'm the only American in the whole place & Yup, it's just me from the US and nobody else. That's cool though. My wife is Brazilian and I speak a little Portuguese, so it isn't like I'm out there all alone not talking to anybody."
Don Bostick is a fixture in the skate world, and his resume reads like something off a kid's "dream jobs" list: Competition Director, National Skateboard Association (1989 - 91); President/Director, National Skateboard Association (1991 - 93); Founder/President/Director, World Cup Skateboarding (1993 to present)—this keeps going and going. So who better to ask about X Games Brazil in order to get a feel for who might come out on top?
Sandro Dias: Brazilian Vert Wizard."On the Vert side, Bob Burnquist. He's very competitive and likes to win in his home country to let them know that he is still the man. And Sandro Dias for pretty much the same reason. Also, Marcelo Bastos: Sasha says if he nails his runs, he's the one to beat. He didn't skate well at the Oi Vert Jam, but if he puts it together, he is the new up-and-coming pro. Rodrigo Menezes is always a threat and a treat to watch. Lincoln Ueda skated well at Oi and I think it may still have some fire in him.""On the Park side, I think Rodolfo Ramos is currently the best Brazilian street/park skater, especially in contests. Diego Oliveria is another great contest skater—good under pressure, plus he aways skates great in Brazil. Milton Martinez—I just like this kid. He was so smooth at X Games Mexico. Finally, Alex Mizurov (Europe's best) and Daniel Vieira (one of Brazil's best contest skaters)."
Here's a cool one from last night—Potter's show-stopping cliffhanger backflip. Moto blogger/shimp hater Ryan Leyba was almost dead-on with his predictions right before the event.The digital camera that I myself am using here in Brazil is the Zach Morris Cell Phone equivalent: clunky, cumbersome and old. Still, it manages to rattle off some decent shots. Here's one to get you pumped on Skate Vert this afternoon (note the photo credit). Digo Menezes had the top score in the elimination rounds with a giant stalefish 720. Lincoln Ueda, Adam Taylor, Neal Hendrix, Bob Burnquist and Sandro Dias round out the highly qualified field of competitors.
