In their ongoing effort to remain at the forefront of action sports, producers of ESPN’s Winter X Games are betting folks will flip over freestyle snowmobiling. The Aspen-based event will introduce the sport to its lineup when the Winter X Games get underway at Buttermilk Mountain on Jan. 25.
After proving itself as a demonstration sport in recent years, snowmobile freestyle will offer medals this winter. Ten riders will compete in the inaugural event. Riders will take individual runs and test their skills on jumps ranging from 45 feet to more than 100 feet. The variety of jumps will allow riders to showcase their full arsenal of tricks on the 500-pound machines, including back flips and others similar to those in freestyle motocross.
“Snowmobile freestyle is an exciting sport that has been progressing over the last few years,” ESPN executive Ron Semiao said. “We feel it is a great fit for Winter X Games that will bring in new riders as well as attract new viewers.”
SKATEBOARDING: Hawk’s fundraiser helps build youth skate parks
Beverly Hills, Calif. – Skateboard icon Tony Hawk took to the ramp recently to raise money for youth skate parks.
Hawk’s foundation conducted its annual “Stand Up for Skateparks” fundraising event at the estate of supermarket magnate Ron Burkle. The crowd of about 900 included rocker John Fogerty and actors Jamie Lee Curtis and David Spade. They were treated to ollies and kickflips in a vertical skating demonstration from Hawk, Bucky Lasek and Olympic snowboarding gold medalist and part-time pro skater Shaun White.
The Tony Hawk Foundation offers grants and technical assistance for the construction of skateboarding parks in low-income communities.
“Towns that do take the plunge and build a facility end up seeing positive results and having less problems with kids skating where they don’t want them to,” Hawk told The Associated Press. “They almost always build another one. They get more use than tennis courts or baseball fields.”
SNOWBOARDING: Introduction, instruction for riders going bilingual
Spanish and bilingual speakers interested in an introduction to snowboarding and the mountain lifestyle will have that opportunity through “El Primero Descent,” a new program offered through Burton Snowboards, Copper Mountain, The Sports Authority and Equipo Roca.
The Sports Authority will host two “El Primer Descenso” intro days during the grand opening of its Glendale (Saturday) and Littleton (Sunday) stores.
Interested first-time riders will have a chance to meet bilingual instructors from Copper’s Ski & Ride School, learn about equipment and register to participate in their “primero” snowboard run at Copper Mountain.
Participants also will have the chance to sign up for a special “Learn to Ride” event at Copper on Dec. 9, a specially priced package that includes transportation, equipment rental, lift ticket and lesson.
“We’re going to approach this crowd with a message that will connect with bilingual speakers on a cultural level,” said Juan Delaroca, president of Equipo Roca Marketing. “We’re adding the tagline, ‘¿Porqué no estas surfeando? No, really … why aren’t you riding?’ to communicate with our bilingual audience.”
For more information, visit www.elprimerodescent.com.
TRIATHLON: Devil’s Thumb hosting winter championship
Winter triathletes will have a chance to showcase their skills on the national level when Devil’s Thumb Ranch near Winter Park hosts the USA Triathlon Winter National Championship on Feb. 4. The event will feature an 8K trail run, 15K mountain bike ride and 10K cross country ski. A shorter event – 5K run, 10K bike, 8K ski – Jan. 14 will serve as a race preview at Devil’s Thumb.
The national championship race will act as an International Triathlon Union Continental Cup event and as a world championship qualifier for various age groups and elite competitors. The top two finishers in each age group will qualify for the world championships in Flassen, Italy, on March 4.
For more information, go online, www.usatriathlon.org/UsatEvents/2007NationalChampionships.aspx, or www.5430sports.com.
(COMPILED BY STAFF WRITER SCOTT WILLOUGHBY)
