Tony Hawk's Gigantic Skatepark Tour Rolls Europe
May. 03, 2001
After the success of Tony Hawk's Gigantic Skatepark Tour last year, ESPN and Tony Hawk's Gigantic Skatepark Tour have teamed up again this summer. The European segment of the tour, which came to a close today, drew capacity crowds while offering a look at things to come for Hawk and ESPN globally.
Hawk and his crew of professional skateboarders and BMX riders launched the tour at the Playstation Park in London. Great Britain welcomed the crew with open arms, with Hawk, Bucky Lasek and BMX pro Rick Thorne leading the charge. The performance level that the three of them set in the halfpipe was phenomenal, with Lasek and Hawk landing their most difficult tricks.
The tour then headed south to Paris, France at Bercy. Highlights of the event at Bercy included Hawk pulling his fifth career 900 (two-and-a-half 360 rotations) and pro Jason Ellis and BMX pro Mat Hoffman pushing the envelope on the halfpipe in front of 15,000 screaming fans. The crew then traveled east to Rail Slide Skatepark just outside of Frankfurt, Germany. Steve Berra, Bam Margera, Kris Markovich and BMX pro Mike Escamilla lit up the street course with technical expertise.
The European segment of the tour has allowed spectators a taste of the Hawk tour while getting Europe ready for international events that ESPN is unveiling in July. The first of these events is an X Games Qualifier in Barcelona. As the most recognizable name in action sports, Tony Hawk and his Tour blazed the trail for this expansion.
Tony Hawk's Gigantic Skatepark tour is being documented by 900 Films and will showcase the talents of professional skaters Tony Hawk, Bucky Lasek, Steve Berra, Bam Margera and Kris Markovich; BMX riders Mat Hoffman, Rick Thorne and Mike Escamilla; and will be hosted by ESPN on-camera personalities Robert Earl, Salema Masekela and Jason Ellis. This year's U.S. tour gets underway May 22, and will showcase additional skaters and riders. Television coverage starts July 28 at noon EDT on ESPN.
European Tour Dates
Playstation Park, London -- April 26, 2001
Bercy, Paris, France -- April 28, 2001
Railslide Skate Hall, Maintal Dornigheim, Germany -- May 1, 2001
For up-to-date tour information and coverage please log on to:
www.expn.com
Media inquiries should be directed to:
espneventmedia.com
For information on the European qualifiers log on to:
europeanxgames.com
ESPN Contacts:
Amy Cacciola / 860 766 7362 amy.cacciola@espn.com
International X:
Christopher Bellitti / 212 916 9889 / christopher.bellitti@espn.com
Tour Contact:
Lhotse Merriam / 801 201 3337 / lhotsem@hotmail.com
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