SAN FRANCISCO-- It was windy and cold, but the crowd at The Pier didn't mind because the best bicycle stunt riders of the world were showing off their tricks in the halfpipe.

And there was drama in the Bicycle Stunt Vert competition at Piers 30 and 32 in San Francisco -- lots of it.

Miracle Boy Dave Mirra, a two-time defending champion in the event, was looking for his 10th overall X Games medal. Matt Hoffman, the pioneer of the sport, returned to action after a two-year break and a recent surgery on his knee. Dennis McCoy, Mirra's runner up in the last two X Games, was poised to challenge for the title. Canadian Jay Miron, owner of five X Games medals, looked strong during the preliminaries and was also in the hunt to become the new champ.

In the end, it was Mirra again. Two consistent, powerful, and clean runs that included a max-air measurement of 12-foot-3, an x-up 540 spin and a tail whip gave Mirra a 91.90 average for his third consecutive title on the Vert.

"I felt really confident going in, but I definitely didn't know I had it," Mirra said. "You just have to come back and put more stuff into it every year. I feel like I've accomplished so much and I'm psyched with the gold."

Miron, with a 89.40 score, finished second behind Mirra for the third time in X Games history and Simon Tabron scored 87.80 to win the bronze medal. Miron also finished second behind Mirra earlier this week in the Street competition.

"I don't think of it as defending a title," Mirra said. "As long as I rode my best, that's what matters."

Mirra, the Miracle Boy, now has 10 X Games medals -- eight of them gold. Since he won silver on the Vert in 1995 and 1996, he has won every X Games event he entered, including four Street titles, three Vert wins, and a Vert Doubles championship.

Miron, who pulled off a 540 tail whip, was the runner-up for the third time behind Mirra.

"I was so embarrassed, I had to try it to save face," said Miron, who popped his tire in the first run, picked up the highest score of the night with a 93.20 second try.

Despite successfully landing a clean 900, Great Britain's Tabron settled for third place.

So far, after five days at the X Games, 183,905 visited the venues at The Pier, Seal Beach and Treasure Island. On Tuesday, 22,457 came through the gates at Piers 30 and 32. At Clipper's Cove on Treasure Island, 1,000 saw the Wakeboarding practices.

Fifteen year-old Pastrana wins Freestyle Moto X
The first run was almost perfect, earning Travis Pastrana (Annapoli, Md.) a score of 99.00 in the Freestyle Moto X at the 1999 ESPN X Games in San Francisco on Tuesday. After the four remaining riders failed to top his score, Pastrana had secured the gold medal.

"This is so awesome and I can't believe I just won the gold medal," Pastrana said. "I have never seen this many people before in my life at a motor cross event and I'm just excited to be at the X Games."

Pastrana added a 98.67 on his second run, but didn't need the score for the gold. His first trip around the track included a rodeo, rarely done in competition, a cliff hanger and a pair of superman seat grabs. His leaps propelled him 35-feet in the air, and he landed an Indian air, a stunt typically seen in bicycle stunt competitions. "I was pleased with the Indian air I pulled off," Pastrana said. "It's a Hoffman trick (referring to Matt Hoffman, the bicycle stunt rider). I was the first to do it Moto competition."

Pastrana took home the first gold in Freestyle Moto X as this year marked the debut of the event at the Games. Mike Cinqmars (Apple Valley, Calif.) claimed the silver with a score of 97.00 and Brian Deegan (Canyon Lake, Calif.) finished with the bronze at 96.67.

At just 15-years-old, Pastrana has been competing in freestyle since 1994, taking first place in all but one race. He has suffered numerous injuries, including 18 broken bones and has undergone eight surgeries. But, he has bounced back and plans on turning professional once he turns 16-years-old in October.

"I've had a lot of injuries, but I can't let that interfere with my life," Pastrana said. "Competing is hard on my body and my parents, but it's all fun."

The X Games are taking place at Piers 30 and 32 in San Francisco from June 25 through July 3. The Games will bring more than 400 of the world's best alternative sport athletes, who will compete for nearly $1 million in prize money, to the Bay Area. For the 1999 X Games, ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will combine to televise 28.5 hours of original programming (June 27-July 5). ESPN International will distribute the event to a global audience, and ESPN.com will also provide extensive on-line coverage.