Tuesday, December 11

Skateboarding Memorabilia from Top Pros to be Auctioned on eBay

Press Release

In a fundraising effort, the United Professional Skateboarders Association (UPSA), a players' association made up of the world's top, active professional skateboarders, will put professional skateboarding memorabilia on eBay December 9, 2001. Among the items to be auctioned are five skateboards signed by the world's top professional skateboarders.

"Every other major professional sport has a players' association, and these items up for auction are a small part of helping skateboarding get there as well," says professional skateboarder Andy Macdonald.

Items up for auction include the following:

* Tony Hawk Birdhouse skateboard signed by Tony Hawk.

* Two Andy Macdonald signature Brigade skateboards signed by Andy Macdonald, Anthony Furlong, Bucky Lasek, Buster Halterman, Mathias Ringstrom, Matt Dove, Mike Crum, Neal Hendrix, Pat Channita, Renton Millar, Rune Glifberg, Sandro Diaz, and Tas Pappas.

* Buster Halterman LIB Tech skateboard signed by Buster Halterman, Andy Macdonald, Anthony Furlong, Bucky Lasek, Mathias Ringstrom, Matt Dove, Mike Crum, Neal Hendrix, Pat Channita, Renton Millar, Rune Glifberg, Sandro Diaz, and Tas Pappas.

* Pat Channita Brigade skateboard signed by Pat Channita, Andy Macdonald, Anthony Furlong, Bucky Lasek, Buster Halterman, Mathias Ringstrom, Matt Dove, Mike Crum, Neal Hendrix, Renton Millar, Rune Glifberg, Sandro Diaz, and Tas Pappas.

Opening bids on the boards will be set at $500 for the Tony Hawk signed board and $300 for the four other boards signed by 13 professional skateboarders.

"My experience working with players' associations made it clear to me that this move for professional skateboarders was long overdue," says Ellen M. Zavian, Executive Director of UPSA "I'm looking forward to helping the membership grow the sport of professional skateboarding and believe the athletes will succeed in this endeavor."

The proceeds from the sale of the items listed shall go towards the development of UPSA.

The United Professional Skateboarders Association is made up of the world's top, active professional skateboarders. UPSA shall work towards the development and growth of the sport, protecting its member's images and seeking group licensing deals. Started in 2001, UPSA, a non-profit association, currently has 57 members including, but not limited to Andy Macdonald, Bucky Lasek, Buster Halterman, Eric Koston and Matt Dove. The board of UPSA is made up of three professional vert skateboarders (plus two alternates) and three professional park skateboarders (plus two alternates). The mission of UPSA is to provide professional skateboarders with an organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of all skateboarders.