The Matchup: Daryl "Lugenstein" Thompson vs. Sean "The Duck" Mallard

The Event: Street Luge - Dual

The Time: Saturday, June 26 at 2 p.m. PT

The Question: Will "Lugenstein" or "The Duck" battle his way to a gold medal?

Daryl "Lugenstein" Thompson, left, and Sean "The Duck" Mallard are both aiming for their first X Games gold medal in the dual competition.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Nicknames have always played a big part in sports. Street luge is no different.

Sean "Kermit" Slate. Robert "Road Dog" Ruhman. Stefan "The Condor" Wagner.

At this year's street luge competition at Seal Rock Run, there's a battle going on in the push-off apron (that's street luge lingo for the area immediately after the starting line). And it's going to be tight.

It's "Lugenstein" vs. "The Duck."

"Lugenstein," a.k.a. Daryl Thompson, and "The Duck," a.k.a. Sean Mallard, have been friends since 1995. They respect each other. They compliment each other. And they talk a lot of trash in between.

Asked who he would most like to compete against, head-to-head, Thompson said there was no question.

"The Duck," he says. "Definitely the Duck."

"He's on my hit list," says Thompson as he prepares for another practice run before the dual finals on Saturday. "I'm gonna get him."

Mallard replies, "Bring it on. I'm ready for all takers."

If either one has room to talk, it's probably Thompson. He claimed a silver medal in the mass competition at the 1996 X Games and he recently claimed the top spot at the '98 San Bernadino Grand Prix in dual and second place in mass.

In addition to his performance on the track, Thompson, 31, starred in the popular Secret Agent X Games promo that aired before the '98 Games. He also models in advertisements for Green Monkey clothing. (An advertisement that magically appeared on all the cars in the parking lot at the Street Luge practice on Friday.)

But "The Duck" isn't intimidated. Not at all.

"I definitely think I can handle him," Mallard, 30, says as he watches his fellow teammates make their way across the finish line after yet another practice run. "I can handle the Stein."

Both lugers agree that this year's course will make for an exciting finish to their battle.

"I like the course, it's got some technical aspects to it and that's what we like," says Mallard.

But when it comes to trash talking, technical goes out the window.

"I'm just going to kick ass," he says, shrugging his shoulders and grinning from ear to ear.