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Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:55 am Post subject: Dew Tour Portland Stop A Success |
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*** Dew Tour Portland Stop A Success ***
Portland, Oregon -- 08/17/2009
Dew Tour's Portland stop is big success to participants, officials, fans.
For the fifth consecutive year, athletes, officials and fans labeled the
Dew Tour's stop in Portland, held over the weekend at the Rose Quarter,
nothing short of a success.
A total of 47,680 attended over the four days and watched top athletes
competing in the action sports of BMX, freestyle motocross and skate
boarding. The attendance was down slightly from last year's total of
51,000 but compares to other stops the Dew Tour has made this year,
event officials said.
Sunday's events, which wrapped up the third of the tour's five stops
this year, featured some old stars, an up-and-coming event and some
outstanding performances.
The highlight of the day for most fans was the battle that took place
on the BMX Park course, where podium staple and renowned BMX rider
Dave Mirra, 35, battled with 19-year-old Garrett Reynolds for bragging
rights.
Reynolds, from Toms River, N.J., ended up dethroning Mirra and
beating Ryan Nyquist, three-time champion Daniel Dhers and a host
of other veterans and youngsters alike for his first Dew Tour victory.
"That was such a terrific and fun thing to watch," said Kara Andrus
who brought her two young sons to Portland from McMinnville to watch
the day's events. "This is the second year we have come here and the
boys love it. It's the perfect summer activity."
Chris Prybylo, vice president of events for Alli Sports, the organizing
body behind the Invitational, said that Portland continues to be an
outstanding location for all that the Dew Tour offers.
"The community understands action sports and they support action
sports," Prybylo said. "The crowds are strong, the weather is beautiful
and to have the opportunity to come to this unique venue with two
arenas in close proximity and all the other space we have here is great."
Alli Sports brought roughly 200 staff to Portland for the week while
139 athletes took part in the various competitions. Portland served
as the first stop on the Dew Tour that had the facilities to accommodate
both BMX and skateboard events while Chicago and Boston, the previous
stops the tour made earlier this summer, only featured either BMX or
skateboard.
And fans of action sports were able to witness a first-of-its-kind
event as tour organizers held a 'real street' skateboard event where
competitors performed tricks on one of Memorial Coliseum's loading
dock rails.
"Its something that we haven't done before but were grateful to the
staff here for allowing. We searched all over the grounds here for the
best spot and the skaters battled it out for a $2,500 prize," Prybylo said.
The final event was a gravity defying demonstration labeled as
freestyle motocross which featured seven riders performing tricks
while suspended in midair inside the Coliseum. As a final sign of their
devotion, the arena remained halfway full and saw Nate Adams of
Temecula, Calif., earn the victory after performing tricks that are
given monikers like 'jackhammer,' 'superman' and 'lazy boy.'
While the attendance figures were comparable to the other Dew Tour
stops this year and from recent years, most of the athletes appreciated
Portland for the moderate weather, active nightlife and competitive
environment.
"For some reason we always seem to have really good competition
here," said Nyquist who won the BMX Dirt event on Friday and took
eighth in BMX Park on Sunday afternoon. "I think it's because the
athletes just feel comfortable here. It's a great place to perform well."
Along with competitions taking place in the Rose Garden, Memorial
Coliseum and elsewhere at the Rose Quarter, attendees were able
to participate in autograph sessions, test products and play games
at the festival village.
The area between the two arenas was extended north to
create ample space for fans and athletes to enjoy themselves,
an accommodation not overlooked by the event staff.
"It's really a family-friendly atmosphere here, and other than the
long drive, you just can't beat it," Andrus said. "My kids are already
asking me about coming next year."
Notes: Mirra's showing in the second round of BMX Park ignited
the crowd, particularly when he performed his patented 'air traffic
controller' move, but his run came up just shy of Reynolds, who was
showered with water and ice by his peers following his win.
He earned $15,000 for his victory. ... Prybylo said that the Dew Tour
would "definitely be back" next year. The final two stops for the tour
will be Sept. 17-20 in Salt Lake City and Oct. 15-18 in Orlando.
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