GOLDEN RHYTHM ON DAY ONE RODRIGUEZ, LASEK SHINE IN THE SKATEBOARDING EVENTS.

Byline: Keith Lair Staff Writer

Bucky Lasek and Paul Rodriguez III found their respective rhythms, and that helped them both secure X Games X gold Thursday.

It all came together for Lasek on the walls of the vert ramp, while Rodriguez found his sweet spot on a ramp leading to a hedge.

Both parlayed their best moves into the first gold medals of the four-day event. Lasek won an X Games- record fourth gold medal in skateboard vert, literally jumping from fourth place to first on the final run of the night before 23,720 spectators.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, earned his first victory as a pro by consistently nailing jumps over a hedge just outside the arena to take the skateboard street competition.

Lasek's win seemed improbable. Pierre-Luc Gagnon threw down a score of 93.66 on his first of three 45-second runs. Rune Glifberg earned a score of 92.33, also on his first run. It seemed like nobody was going to catch either.

But Lasek found a way. He completed flawless 520s and cabalerials and finished off with one of his original tricks, a frontside heel flip gay twist. After completing the toughest trick in his routine, Lasek raised his arms in triumph.

After all, he had scored a 95.00.

It was the second straight year he used his signature move to win the contest.

``Three times, I rolled the dice,'' said the 31-year-old from Carlsbad. ``I felt like a pit bull was behind me, and I got it there. I can't believe I won. Pierre-Luc had it cold.''

Lasek said Gagnon's first run made it tough on everyone because they were trying to play catch-up.

``There were three times when I got my rhythm going,'' Lasek said of his final run. ``The first was on the first two walls. I have random falls on them. When I got them, I thought I could go for it. I didn't know if it would be good enough, but I made it. Then, it was up to the judges. Nothing I could do.''

Gagnon hit a heel flip indy and a backside 360 on his first run. But it was Gagnon's missed nollie kickflip 360 that may have kept Lasek in the running. It's a move Gagnon tried on his gold-winning vert run two years ago.

But he decided to pass this time around.

``I really wanted to do it,'' he said. ``I thought I had it won. And then Bucky made a great run.''

Rodriguez might now become as famous as his dad, the comedian and actor.

``I am dumbfounded,'' said Rodriguez. ``I won a lot of amateur competitions, but none as a pro. I finally won one and it's the X Games. Wow. I really am dumbfounded. I know I'll sleep well tonight.''

Keith Lair, [phone]

keith.lair(at)sgvn.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) Shaun White of Carlsbad arches himself upside-down during the X Games Skateboard Vert finals at Staples Center on Thursday.

(2) Chatsworth's Paul Rodriguez earned his first victory as a skateboarding pro by taking Thursday afternoon's Skateboard Street event outside Staples Center.

Hans Gutknecht/LA Daily News