12-Year-Old Seeking Gold Medal at X Games

The X Games gold medal in Big Air skateboarding will be awarded on Friday, and 12-year-old Tom Schaar of Malibu remains in contention.

Schaar advanced to today's second round on Chick Hearn Court, between what organizers are dubbing the Event Deck atop the West Parking Garage and the Convention Center, with the eighth-highest score overall, 87 points, in Thursday's first round as the initial field of 18 was reduced to 12.

Schaar was not the youngest rider to advance. That distinction went to 11-year-old Jagger Eaton of Mesa, Ariz., the youngest athlete to compete in the X Games, who was tied for 10th overall with 82.66 points.

The highest score -- 90 points -- was achieved by Rony Gomes of Brazil, a relative oldster at 19.

The field for the second round will be divided into two six-rider heats. The winner of each 18-minute heat, plus the four highest scores from any heat among riders not already qualified, will advance to today's final.

Finals are also scheduled for today in women's Skateboard Street and BMX Freestyle Street, both on the Event Deck, and Moto X Best Whip, Step Up and Best Trick in Staples Center.

The first gold medal of X Games 18 went to Taka Higashino of Japan in Moto X Freestyle Thursday. Higashino received 93.33 points on his first run, a score none of the other nine competitors were able to top on their second runs.

Levi Sherwood of New Zealand received 91.66 points on his second run to win the silver medal.

Javier Villegas of Chile won the bronze medal in a tiebreaker over Nate Adams of Glendale, Ariz. after both scored 88.66 points on their second runs. Villegas had the higher average when the scores of all five judges were included. The high and low scores are customarily not included in the scoring.

Riders tackled a complex dirt course inside Staples Center made up of a variety of different jumps. Scoring is based on overall impression, tricks, execution, style, use of the course and landings.