Results: Jeep 48Straight -Vernon New Jersey

Lopes gaining a lead on Tribus Chris Dannen

When it's time for the men's final, it's Swanguen and Warren, the two kids duking it out for the gold Jeep medal. They rocket out of the gate and gallop their way down the mountain. Then there's another poof of dust--same spot as Buhl's--and Swanguen eats it elbows first, giving Warren the win. Swanguen gets back on the bike and finishes the course, getting big air on the final jump for kicks. I look at the CBS Sports camera guys, who are sweating like railroad workers in the glaring sun, getting dust blown all over them. The race will be televised September 28, but these guys look like they can't wait to get their 50-pound cameras down the mountain.

I make my way down to the base of the course where a band is taking the stage that's been erected near the finish line. An all-girl, AC/DC cover band. I don't like AC/DC. I spent a year working in a shop for a guy who loved them so much he played Back in Black on repeat. So I do the only thing a man can do in these situations: I go to the booze tent and get a shot of Old Granddad and two Coorses, and I ask Swanguen what the hell happened back there.

"I liked the way the track was getting worn it," he says big-eyed, "and the course was sick. It had everything on it you could want, no one style of riding." He looks a little deflated and his arms are bleeding. "But at the end there, I totally committed to that corner, and the top had been all pushed out."

In the end, it was Kathy Pruitt, Melissa Buhl, and Lisa Myklak on the podium with gold, silver and bronze for the women. For the men, Cody Warren finished first over crashed-out JD Swanguen, and Jared Rando took third. The local favorite, Lars Tribus, ended up in 8th, just behind Hanak, Eric Carter, Chris VanDine and Rich Houseman respectively.

And even though two crashes decided the wins, it was all smiles in the hospitality tent, where the riders lolled around on large white bed-cushions, ate Chicken Napolonese with grilled vegetables and drank free beer--six of them with thick, square Jeep emblems ribboned around their necks. The rest will have to wait until the next phase of the 48Straight in Park City, Utah, on September 20 for the chance to win medals of their own.

Swanguen (foreground) and Carter in the second round of heats Chris Dannen

The men: Rando, Warren and Swanguen Chris Dannen