Bicycle freestyle legend Mat Hoffman will be awarded the Action Sports Achievement Award at the second annual ESPN Action Sports and Music Awards Fueled by Mountain Dew, it was announced today by Ron Semiao, ESPN vice president, programming and managing director, Global X. The pioneer event that joins the hottest action sports and musical artists will be held Saturday, April 13 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, Calif.

"Mat Hoffman has shaped his sport from his first day on a bike," Semiao said. "He is responsible for the progression of bmx in the halfpipe over the years and continues to be a leader in the bmx industry and the competition circuit simultaneously. It is an honor to award Mat the Action Sports Achievement Award, as he lives to ride, and rides to live."

Mat's accomplishments in the sport of bicycle freestyle are unequaled, and he is undeniably known as the greatest vert ramp rider in the history of the sport. At age 16 - his fourth year of riding competitively - he was the youngest pro the sport had ever seen. His innovative riding style created the majority of the vert tricks still seen today. In 1991, Mat left his primary sponsor and began his own promotion company, now the Hoffman Sports Association (H.S.A.), which organizes several bicycle stunt competitions worldwide. With his ever-increasing ambition, Mat decided to design and build his own bike, thus creating his second business: Hoffman Bikes, which is celebrating its 11th anniversary this year. In addition to five X Games medals to date, Mat is the World High Air Record Holder - 50.5 feet above ground; the 2000 Bicycle Stunt Series Champion; the 2000 CFB Series Champion and a 10-time World Champion. Mat is married and has a daughter.

"Wow! It goes without mentioning what an honor this is," Hoffman said. "I owe a lot to my family and friends for putting up with my passion of hucking myself at and off various things. Thanks to everyone for their support and to medical science. This culture has given me a world to live free from compromise or limits. There's not much more to ever wish for. Thank you for sharing this with me! I look forward to the celebration on April 13th."

The ESPN Action Sports & Music Awards Fueled by Mountain Dew is the first-ever awards show to bring together the most recognizable action sports athletes and cutting-edge musical artists in the unique forum of an awards show. After a highly successful first year, ESPN will again unite athletes, sports legends, musicians and Hollywood celebrities to present an explosive evening. Throughout the evening, awards will be presented to those who have shaped and continue to change the sports of the new millennium and in a unique twist; awards will also be presented to the musical artists that have accompanied these athletes every step of the way.

Professional athletes within each respective sport will vote for:
Male and Female Surfer of the Year
BMX Rider of the Year
Surfing's Musical Artist of the Year
BMX Musical Artist of the Year

Male and Female Snowboarder of the Year
Skateboarder of the Year
Snowboarding's Musical Artist of the Year
Skateboarding's Musical Artist of the Year

Male and Female Skier of the Year
Motocross Rider of the Year
Skiing's Musical Artist of the Year
Motocross Musical Artist of the Year

The ESPN Action Sports and Music Awards Fueled by Mountain Dew will also present the Action Sports Artist Contribution Award and the Action Sports Feat of the Year Award. Musical artists and celebrity presenters are expected to confirm soon.

The ESPN Action Sports & Music Awards Fueled by Mountain Dew will take place April 13, 2001, and the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, with the original telecast on Tuesday, April 16, 2001 on ESPN at 9:00pm EST. EXPN.com will serve as the official website for the awards show, and will provide a public voting machine allowing web visitors to make their own award selections. EXPN.com will also feature information on future repeat telecasts, biographies of all nominees, musical bios and more. Tickets to attend the event can be purchased through Ticketmaster. The ESPN Action Sports & Music Awards Fueled by Mountain Dew is owned, organized and televised by ESPN.

Contact:
Melissa Gullotti, X Games, 860-766-7216 or melissa.c.gullotti@espn.com
Josh Krulewitz, ESPN, 860-766-2319 or josh.krulewitz@espn.com

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