SAN FRANCISCO -- Aggressive in-line skating vert triples has always brought out the creative side of its participants. But at X Games V, it was plain old good skating that took the gold medal.

An international team of Sven Boekhorst of the Netherlands, Javier Bujanda of Spain, and Frenchman Taig Khris claimed the gold in an event that featured a Star Wars routine, a surprise performance by a trio of female security guards, and even a dance routine by Eito Yasutoko's father.

The winners performed a highly technical run with plenty of tricks thrown in. It was the second year that Boekhorst, Bujanda and Khris have competed as a team in vert triples. They took the bronze medal at last year's Games.

"We feel lucky," said Bujanda. "We all had problems and I had problems with my back, but we just wanted to come out and concentrate on the run."

The trio's first run was given a score of 88.0 and would prove to be the winning run. The trio performed numerous flatspins, 540s and a 900. Khris landed a huge 360, flying high over his two partners.

The team of Matt Salerno, Cesar Mora and Mike Budnik came close to climbing into first place with their second run when Mora landed a 720 over Salerno and Budnik, and all three performed synchronized 720s. But it was only good enough for an 85.00 and second place.

Finishing with the bronze was Team Japan, consisting of the Yasutoko brothers, Eito and Takeshi, and Maki Komori.

The competition was highlighted by several theatrical performances, including Manuel Billiris, Eitan Kramer and Scott Crawford's recreation of "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace," complete with Eitan Kramer in full costume and makeup as Darth Maul.

Eito and Takeshi Yasutoko, along with Komori, ended their final run early to make way for Mr. Yasutoko, who took to the ramp and did an impromptu dance routine on traditional roller skates.

Saturday's vert triples final was held on the last day day of competition at 1999 X Games from Piers 30 and 32 in San Francisco.