The Matchup: Andy Macdonald vs. Tony Hawk

The Event: Skateboard Vert Finals

The Time: Saturday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. PT

The Question: Can Andy Macdonald beat Tony Hawk again?

Andy Macdonald, left, stole the show a year ago in San Diego when he beat local favorite and good friend Tony Hawk. He'll be out for his third vert gold this weekend in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO -- You would think that Tony Hawk and Andy Macdonald would have built up an intense rivalry by now. After all, the two have been skating together for years and at last year's X Games, Macdonald stole the show by claiming two gold medals and a bronze.

Things must be heating up this year, right?

Not exactly.

"As long as he wins, or I win, it's all good," says Macdonald with a smile during Thursday's first vert practice session for Summer X Games V in San Francisco.

These two, despite what some people might think, have the utmost respect for one another on the ramps and off. Enough to win vert doubles gold medals in both 1997 and '98.

But it's Macdonald, not the legendary Hawk, who is coming off his best season yet.

In 1998, Macdonald placed in the top 10 in both street and vert in every contest he entered. He has continued his hot streak in 1999 by winning vert at the X Trials in Louisville, Ky., and finishing second in vert at the Slam City Jam in Vancouver, British Columbia.

He has four X Games gold medals to his name -- all in vert or vert doubles. But he's quick to note the difference between himself and Hawk.

"Tony's really technical. A lot of tricks back to back. I think he's the only one out here doing 720's," says Macdonald. "We just have two totally different styles."

Hawk is just as quick to return the compliment.

"You know he's gonna be on," says Hawk. "He's got some really knarly combos, and when he puts it all together, he's got a good chance."

Hawk, 31, has been skating since the age of 10. He is easily the best known skater in the world. He can't walk 10 feet through the venue without stopping to sign an autograph, which he always does with a smile.

Everyone knows Hawk. And after last year, everyone knows his vert doubles partner Macdonald. He out-skated Hawk to win the gold medal in vert in 1996 and again at last year's games.

"At the end, last year, he had such good runs. He was just trying anything, and doing it," says Hawk. "I just kept telling him to try anything he could think of."

Despite his breakout performance last year, Macdonald, 25, doesn't feel there is any more pressure on him to perform against Hawk.

"The only real pressure is the pressure I put on myself," says Macdonald. "I just want to do the line I plan out for myself. That's the most that can be expected really."

Despite the duo's downplay of their rivalry, Friday night's final promises to highlight this year's skateboard competition.

And it's also certain that Tony Hawk and Andy Macdonald will be happy with the results. As long as one of them wins.