SAN FRANCISCO -- Japanese skaters took command of the halfpipe as two skaters won medals at the 1999 ESPN X Games in the Women's Aggressive In-Line Vert competition at Piers 30 and 32 in San Francisco.

Ayumi Kawasaki of Osaka, Japan, scored 59.00 in her second run to beat three-time defending champion Fabiola da Silva, to win the gold medal. Sao Paulo, Brazil's da Silva scored 56.00 points to finish second. Maki Komori of Hyogo, Japan, placed third with a 40.75 to win the bronze medal.

Kawasaki packed it all into her final run, landing back-to-back spins, including an upside down 720. The 14-year-old soared high above the ramp, controlling each and every move in the air.

Last year, Kawasaki finished second in the event after a bronze medal performance in 1997 in San Diego.

Kawasaki is the third Japanese In-line skater to win gold at the X Games this year. On Thursday, Sayaka Yabe won the gold on the Street while Eito Yasutoko took first in the Men's Vert contest.

For da Silva, it was the first time she did not win gold in the halfpipe in four X Games. She was not able to defend her title despite completing 540s and 720s in her second run.

"Second place is okay, because I would just want to get first place even more next time," da Silva said. "I enjoy skating in San Francisco and I hope to come back next year."

Winds swirl around the pier, schedule changes
Gusty winds blew dust into the faces of the X Games Bicycle Stunt riders on Friday on Piers 30 and 32 in San Francisco, forcing the prelims of the Dirt Jumping event to be rescheduled for Saturday, July 3. Events on the final day of the 1999 ESPN X Games will begin at 10 a.m. with the venue opening at 10:30 a.m.

"The wind was blowing directly in your face, so it hindered your runs," said Ryan Nyquist who will be competing in Dirt Jumping.

In order to avoid the strong gusts that pick up as the sun sets, the Bicycle Stunt Dirt Jumping practice will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Competition in the event will run from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. with prelims followed by the finals.

The Aggressive In-line Skating Vert Triples will start at noon, running until 2:45 p.m. The finals are slated for 3 - 4:30 p.m.

Despite the windy conditions, 24,488 spectators arrived at the main venue. The total crowd count now stands at 247,374, surpassing the 1998 total from San Diego. Last year, 242,850 fans walked through the gates over the duration of the Games.

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.