CLEVELAND ROCKS!!! You have heard the mantra before and it certainly held true tonight at the Quicken Loans Arena. The fans were loud from start to finish and they certainly had a ton to cheer about. Sean Nielson started us off with a solid run that netted him an 83.1. Sean was happy to end his season on a good note and will be having surgery to repair a torn ACL on Tuesday. We hope for a speedy recovery for “The Outlaw”. Next, Derek Burlew went off, hitting both a switch grip Indy and a BASE jump to net an 88.8. Keith Sayers came to the floor after DB and despite a solid run was only able to manage an 83.5 which was okay with “Say Ya” because he said his return from the early season ankle injury continues on schedule. Nick Dunne came out to a huge applause and didn’t disappoint his many fans, hitting both a Captain Morgan and a Drunken Monkey as well. His 90.8 would turn out to be the top qualifier for the night. Dustin Nowak was fighting the flu as he came to the floor, but still put in a game effort, but was only able to score an 80.0.
During our first break X-Games gold medalist Heath Frisby came out to get his Red Bull Ski-Doo dialed in and ended up a little short on his second jump and got huckle bucked off the front of his sled. He was ok and got right up. He promised to be back after the finals and he kept his word performing a back flip on his snow mobile with Nick Dunne and Keith Sayers flipping right next to him.
Rich Kearns got us going in the second half and he was also fighting a stomach bug but made no excuses. He was only able to manage an 83.2, but the crowd definitely appreciated his effort. Drake McElroy cruised out behind him and smoothly work his way thru a run that included a stylish cliff hanger and his signature whip nac. He had a shot at the finals with his 88.4 but with three riders left he would have wait and see. Julian Dusseau strode out aboard his Yamaha and had a clean run. He put together a nice no footed can to candy bar and managed to get in an extra trick and the judges rewarded his effort with a 90.5 that had him headed to the finals. Greg Hartman rode from the tunnel to the sounds of Johnny Cash and the Man in Black inspired him to an 89.5 which was good enough for the final qualifying spot. Brody Wilson stepped to the plate with the final chance to get to the main event. He showed the crowd a perfectly executed one hand seat grab to rock solid that helped him to the second qualifying spot with a 90.7.
We had all the usual suspects for out crowd judged whip contest with Dunne, Dusseau, Wilson, McElroy and Burlew squaring off. Dusseau and Dunne put up nice whips and “The Wilson Express” turned his bike nearly upside down, but DMC and DB again took things to another level. Drake’s whip nac really revved up the crowd but Burlew stole the win by going to the single ramp and throwing a sweet left handed whip to the Cleveland faithful.
“Superman” Greg Hartman was the first to go in the finals and he started things off with a superflip and ended with a back flip Indy to score a 91.7. Dusseau was rider number two in the finals and used a whip flip and a flip can can to take over the Hot Seat with a 92.3. Julian looked a little nervous in the big red chair knowing Brody Wilson was next to the floor. It turned out to be with good reason because Wilson started his run with a Kiss of Death flip and also showing off a very nice sidewinder and a massive Rock Solid. He nudged Dusseau out of the Hot Seat with his tally of 93.8. The crowd favorite Nicky “Six Guns” Dunne was our last rider and he had it on a rail until his third trick which he dead sailored which pretty much sealed the win for Brody.
It was a fantastic night here on the shores of Lake Erie and the crowd at the Quicken Loans Arena saw one of the best shows of the year. Get to Facebook.com/gravityslashers and let the guys know how much you loved the show. David Knisley
mxannouncer@hotmail.com