SAN FRANCISCO -- Dennis Derammelaere has been so close so many times. Third in the street luge dual competition at the X Games in 1996. Second in '97. And then the injury in '98. He was practicing when he broke his lower right leg. He still has a plate and eight metal screws in his ankle.

But that didn't stop Derammelaere from claiming the gold medal in one of the most exciting races in X Games history. Derammelaere raced to a photo finish with good friend Lee Dansie to claim the gold. Derammelaere stopped by on Wednesday to chat about this amazing race, his future plans and his interest in auto racing.

The following is an edited transcript of Derammelaere's chat.

Stefan Wagner: Hi Dennis,
Congratulations!!! I am so sorry that I could not be there. It seemed to be a good course. Did you run the ceramics again?

Dennis Derammelaere: I was disappointed that Stefan wasn't able to make it. It was the best course we've had. If he had been there, he would have been a contender for the gold. Yes, I along with every other racer were using ceramics.

Skate_1010: What other sports do you play?

Derammelaere: I'm actually a tennis instructor. I played for my college team. I'm really into snowboarding and skiing as well. My main interest is CART racing. I am trying to get into auto racing.

Venture9: How much does a good luge board cost?

Derammelaere: That's a good question. There are a number of different routes to go. The most expensive way is to make it yourself. The best way for your first board, is to buy a tried and true design. There are a number of people making excellent boards. I've ridden a board made by Bob Pereyra for four years and he can be contacted through the internet on any luge site. His organization is RAIL. His board comes complete with board, wheels and everything for $850.

Axelgrind: What do you do when you aren't luging?

Derammelaere: I recently graduated from college and I'm a writer and I'm looking for work as a creative writer and/or graphic artist. Most of my free time is spent CART racing.

Kyle24: Man, I've just got to say you are one of the best. I've got a couple questions. First, what's it like to be an X Games gold medalist? Second, how did you get into street luge and how could I get into it?

Derammelaere: Winning the gold has been one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. And it wasn't that I just won, it was how many years I worked for it and was so close but didn't get it. The day I won, it was an incredible feeling to have made such an accomplishment in front of a home crowd of 10,000 people cheering me on. The energy was unbelievable. It was very emotional.

To get into luging, if you're serious about it, get a board. To actually start competing, you need to practice. Practice safely. This is the most dangerous part because we don't have closed courses. NSLA has a website at roadluge.org. If you visit there, they have a schedule or races.

X-luger: Is it very hard to turn on a luge race and is the sport very physical?

Derammelaere: Turning isn't very hard but turning well and at the right time can be. The sport is very physical at times, but more importantly, it's about finesse. A perfect example is to watch Lee Dansie who is one of the most talented riders out there. Watching him ride is like poetry in motion.

Adam: What is the hardest course that you have ever tried to accomplish?

Derammelaere: In terms of racing, the most difficult course has to be this year's X Games course. But, probably the craziest course was an 85 MPH run in North Carolina. The most dangerous courses aren't always the best. The only thing that could have made this year's X Games course better would be more turns.

Hojo: What kind of name is Derammelaere? Where are you from?

Derammelaere: I'm actually the first American in my family. My father is from Belgium and my mother is from South Africa.

GotPhatSpeed: Dennis, that was an awesome race!

Derammelaere: Thanks for the comment! It was actually a fitting finish to a storybook weekend. Lee and I were both racing for our good friend Shawn Goulart who passed away two years ago. Shawn and I always saw the dual as the premier event and it meant a lot to me to win it.

Jeffrey: Dennis, congratulations on your victory. What races do you have planned next?

Derammelaere: I'm actually not sure right now what I'm going to do with street luge because I'm focusing most of my attention on auto racing. It's a nice opportunity now that I'm pre-qualified for next year's X Games that I can do both, but I intend on staying active with the luge races to keep my skills sharp.

Brian: What's your best race? Your time? Who did you beat? Thanks.

Derammelaere: I would have to say there were two. The first being the first time I beat Bob Pereya, the guy who got me into the sport. The other being my gold medal win over Lee Dansie. Both have been idols of mine for a few years.

Speed demon: Have you ever been stopped for speeding while riding?

Derammelaere: Every time we ride we exceed the speed limit. Usually though with the police, it's just that fact that we're there in the first place. The cops usually don't give us a hard time. They usually just tell us that we can't do it anymore.

KoRnOnTheKob99: What do you plan to do now that you've won the street luge?

Derammelaere: Going into last year, I was considering retiring after the X Games. But after breaking my leg, I didn't want to end on a down note. It gave me more incentive to come back from the injury. Now that I've won the gold -- and for the first time in four X Games I didn't go to the hospital -- I don't see how I could pass up the opportunity to do it again next year.

Fastdude: What was it like being on the X Games show?

Derammelaere: It was a blast getting to hang out with athletes like Steve Caballero and Arlo Eisenberg. The food was great and it was a really good atmosphere.

Sadie: Are you going to race at Sam's Gap later this summer?

Derammelaere: No, I don't think I'm going to be able to make that race but I hear it's one of the best in the country.

KoRnOnTheKob99: What did you think of Tony Hawk's 900 yesterday?

Derammelaere: I think that Tony Hawk is a truly incredible athlete and what he's done for the sport of skateboarding is phenomenal. The 900 he pulled off is a perfect example of how he is paving new ground for future skateboarders and extreme athletes.

Chris: Dennis, I missed your run, but tell me, was Ponsetti there?

Derammelaere: Ponsetti has always been there with me all the way. He's a great friend and a great racer and was really happy for me when I won the gold.

Derammelaere: Thanks for all the questions. I'm sorry I don't have more time. The X Games are all about the athletes and the fans and if anyone out there is thinking about luge racing, always be safe. Think fast and kick ass!