SAN FRANCISCO -- "The Condor" is back.

Matt Hoffman, a living legend in freestyle biking, is once again part of the vert competition at X Games V in San Francisco. Hoffman, who came to the event as an organizer with no plans on competing, made the decision to join the fun after fellow rider Dave Osato bowed out due to injury.

	Matt Hoffman practices before Monday night's vert prelims.

And Monday night, Hoffman was up to his old tricks in the halfpipe. In his first competition in over a year, Hoffman qualified fifth for Tuesday night's finals.

"It was amazing. I haven't felt that kind of energy in a long time," said Hoffman after his qualifying runs. "It was a major rush. There is nothing like it. I won't be able to find anything else quite as exciting."

Hoffman, who is still battling a knee injury that he suffered over a year ago, was all smiles before taking to the ramp for practice Monday afternoon. While strapping on his gear and sipping a cold drink, Hoffman paused to reflect on his decision.

"I don't know what the hell I was thinking," Hoffman said. "I woke up this morning and reality kind of hit me."

Hoffman, who aggravated his knee injury just last month, just started riding again two weeks before heading to San Francisco. Before then, he hadn't rode his bike "seriously" for over a year.

"I've been riding easy," Hoffman said. "But when I rode this ramp, I realized I can still actually do an aerial. I've just been missing it so bad."

Hearing Hoffman talk about doing an aerial is like listening to Michael Jordan talk about dribbling a basketball. It's not hard to grasp Hoffman's impact on freestyle biking. Just look at his resume.

Ten world championships in 10 years. X Games gold in 1995 and '96 vert before suffering a foot injury in '97. He is credited with bringing freestyle biking to the level that it is today. But that is only the beginning of Hoffman's story.

Hoffman is the founder of the popular Bicycle Stunt Series (BS Series), the premier freestyle biking circuit in the world. He is the owner of Hoffman bikes, Exhibit Clothing, Hoffman Productions and Hoffman manufacturing. He also produces his own line of freestyle biking videos. Hoffman is freestyle biking.

And he's only 27.

But Hoffman isn't out to prove anything with his sudden appearance at this year's games. He just wants to ride and start fighting his way back to the top of the freestyle world. And his entry in the vert competition at X Games V is only the start to his comeback.

"19th," says Hoffman. "I would be happy with 19th."

Hoffman's modest estimate turned into a top-five performance just hours later. He scored an 82.50 to put himself right in the middle of medal contention. While the gold may be still a longshot with Dave Mirra riding like he did Monday night -- the three-time defending vert gold medalist qualified first with a score of 89.10 -- Hoffman proved he still has enough moves to be competitive. Not just a competitor.

Hoffman iced his right knee after his two runs and watched Mirra do his usual assortment of awesome aerials. Mirra was at times 12 feet above the coping doing tail whips and 540s.

Jay Miron, who took silver to Mirra's gold in the street comp Saturday, once again showed he will give Mirra a run for gold with a second-best qualifying score of 87.50. England's Jamie Bestwick was third with a 85.80, while Dennis McCoy shook off a wrist injury to post a score of 83.60 -- good for fourth place.

The remaining five riders who moved on to the finals are Kevin Robinson, Simon Tabron, Ryan Nyquist, John Parker and Jason Davies.