Thursday, January 18

Vans Hosts the Superbowl of Amateur Skateboarding

By Press Release
Vans.com

Schedule Set For The Vans Amateur World Championships

Looking for an alternative to football on Superbowl weekend? Then check out the best athletes that amateur skateboarding has to offer. No multi-million dollar paychecks, no chartered planes, no cheerleaders...just pure sport. On the weekend of January 27-28th, dozens of the world's best amateur skateboarders will descend on the Vans Skatepark in Orange, California for the Vans Amateur World Championships of Skateboarding. The largest and most culturally diverse event in skateboarding will crown the sport's next pros.

From 9am-4pm on Saturday, January 27th, skaters will make their way to the street course at the Vans Skatepark for the street contest that could change their lives forever. One lucky winner will ride away with a professional contract from Vans, one of the largest and most well respected companies in the industry. And on Sunday, January 28th from 9am-4pm, the halfpipe competition will take place on the 80-foot wide, 13-foot tall halfpipe where vert riders will be competing for the same opportunity, a professional contract from Vans.

"If you've never been to the Vans Amateur World Championships before, then do yourself a favor and get down to the Vans Skatepark," says Steve Van Doren, Vans' Vice President of Events and Promotions. "For most of these athletes, this is the first time they have ever left their hometown, much less traveled to another country. These kids are truly passionate about their sport and could be tomorrow's top pros."

The Vans Amateur World Championships is the only skateboarding event of its kind. For the fifth year in a row, Vans has spanned the globe hosting qualification rounds in search of the best amateur halfpipe and street skateboarders in the world. Each skater who qualified then competed in the semi-final rounds which were held at select stops of the Vans Warped Tour 2000, the number one alternative music and sports festival in the world. The first-place winners from each semi-final contest received an all expense-paid trip to California to compete in the forthcoming 2000 Vans Amateur World Championships of Skateboarding. The first-place winners in both the street and halfpipe competitions at this event will be awarded a one-year pro-contract from Vans and a place as a demo skater on the 2001 Vans Warped Tour, allowing them their first opportunity to tour as a pro rider.