This fall players will be able to experience skateboarding like never before in Tony Hawk: RIDE from Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) is expected to release by November 17th. For the first time, players will have the ability to physically play the game using an innovative motion sensing skateboard controller, allowing for unprecedented freedom and movement. Tony Hawk: RIDE focuses on innovation and fun, bringing the #1 best-selling action-sports franchise to the forefront with cutting-edge technology for the hardcore fans and accessibility for the mass audience.

“Tony Hawk: RIDE is a massive step forward for the franchise and the gaming industry as a whole,” said Rob Kostich, head of marketing, global brand management, Activision Publishing, Inc. “The skateboard controller will redefine sports games by offering players a true skateboarding experience, hands-free, playing with friends and family at home or online in a variety of different locations.”

“This is the game I’ve always wanted to make,” said Tony Hawk, who has been directly involved with development of the project. “Playing on the board is unlike any other game, and I’m excited for everyone to have the chance to feel what it’s really like to experience the true feeling of skateboarding.”

Tony Hawk: RIDE features a wireless skateboard controller designed in conjunction with the game to offer a dynamic gaming experience built from the ground up. Using a combination of accelerometers and motion sensors, the intuitive controller allows players to physically control the action by performing various movements and gestures on the board that directly translate into amazing tricks in the game. Without complex button combinations or analog sticks, gamers of all skill levels can literally step on the board and play!

Tony Hawk: RIDE is in development by Robomodo for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system. Buzz Monkey is developing the Wii(TM) system version. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB and is scheduled for release later this year.

For more information on Tony Hawk: RIDE, please visit www.THRide.com.

About Tony Hawk, Inc.

Tony Hawk, Inc. is a world leader in its field with the unprecedented ability to bring alternative sports and their unique lifestyle to the masses while maintaining an indispensable edge of authenticity with the market’s hard-core, trendsetting audience. Founded by Tony Hawk in 1998 and based in Vista, CA, the company is organized into five segments: Merchandising, Events, Endorsements, Film and Digital Media. These lifestyle sports include skateboarding, BMX, Motocross, surfing and snowboarding. Consumer goods bearing the Tony Hawk brand have dominated several markets, including interactive games, skateboard hard goods, lifestyle apparel, toys, publications and more.

BuildARamp.com is curious to know what you want out of an IPhone App that has something to do with skateboarding or BMX.

Submit your comment and who knows maybe someone will see your IPhone App Idea and develope it!

Filmed over the period of a few months in and around Edinburgh by Dave Sowerby, this video of Inspired Bicycles team rider Danny MacAskill (more info at www.dannymacaskill.com) features probably the best collection of street/street trials riding ever seen. There’s some huge riding, but also some of the most technically difficult and imaginative lines you will ever see. Without a doubt, this video pushes the envelope of what is perceived as possible on a trials bike.

Credit to Band of Horses for their epic song ‘The Funeral.’ You can find out more about the band and their music at www.bandofhorses.com or you can buy the featured song from itunes here: http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects…

Asia’s Premiere Action Sports Event Celebrates 11^th Anniversary

The city of Shanghai will once again host KIA X Games Asia, Asia’s premiere action sports competition, as it returns to China for the third consecutive year — celebrating 11 years of Asian X Games events.

This year the event will showcase more than 200 of the best action sports athletes from more than 20 countries and five continents in world-class competition in the sports of Skateboard, BMX, In-Line Skate and Sport Climbing. New to the Asian X Games, this year’s event will also feature a Moto X Big Air demonstration. Televised live from Shanghai’s KIC Jiangwan Stadium, X Games Asia will air May 1 – May 3 on ESPN Asia networks and will be organized by sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports along with the Shanghai Media Group and Shanghai Sports Federation. The event will also be shown on ESPN International networks in Latin America, Australia, Middle East and Africa.

“We are thrilled to be back in China, and look forward to delivering another exhilarating event to action sports fans in Shanghai,” said Rick Alessandri, senior vice president, X Games Franchise. “We are excited to work closely with KIA Motors to continue this tradition of bringing world-class action sports competition to China.”

This year, competitors can look forward to an increase in prize money for the event, and Skateboard, BMX, and In-Line participants for the street discipline can also expect a new course design that will resemble real street conditions.

The KIA X Games Asia has earned a strong global reputation with a significant increase in awareness about action sports in the region. Last year’s event was enthusiastically received by the Shanghai community and broke attendance records with more than 52,800 people passing through the gates of Yangpu district’s KIC Jiangwan Sports Center – an increase of more than 55% from 2007.

The Games are bolstered by the addition of a new Silver Sponsor in Mountain Dew and the elevation of Apparel sponsor Pony to the Silver category. New brands like Doritos and Cold Stone have also picked up sponsorship packages. And ESPN has entered in to a collaboration with licensing agent IMG for the launch of an X Games consumer products line planned for later this year in China.

Leading up to this year’s event, KIA X Games Asia 2009 kicked off with a three-city, eight-stop roadshow tour in December and will finish at Shanghai’s Wanda Shopping Mall April 25-26. The roadshows include demos in BMX freestyle and In-Line skate, musical performances, entertainment acts, prize giveaways and an interactive mini-skate park for spectators to test their skills.

Event Partners

The event is proudly sanctioned by the Chinese Extreme Sports Association and is organized by ESPN STAR Sports, the Shanghai Media Group and the Shanghai Sports Federation. The Shanghai Yang Pu District Government is the event’s Special Organizer and the Shanghai Sports Competition Management Centre is the co-organizer while the Shanghai Extreme Sports Association is the supporting organizer. The KIC Jiangwan Sports Center is the official venue.

About ESPN’s X Games Franchise

ESPN held its first X Games in 1995. ESPN’s Global X Events and Development group is responsible for creating the company’s action sports programming currently airing on ESPN, ESPN2 and across its various international networks.   In addition to the two U.S.-based X-branded events – X Games, and Winter X Games, ESPN has held X Games competitions and demonstration events around the world, including Dubai, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, Malaysia, China and Spain.  The global X franchise has also expanded its reach to ESPN.com/Action, the definitive site for action sports fans, and to consumer products such as X Games bikes, protective gear, skateboards and DVDs.

Details and a list of scheduled athletes for KIA X Games Asia 2008 will be forthcoming on www.kiaxgamesasia.com for the public and www.espneventmedia.com for media.

ESPN MEDIA CONTACTS:

Alex Rozis alex.a.rozis@espn.com 310-642-1533

Katie Moses Swope katie.moses@espn.com 310-642-1507

I took a recent road trip with a few fellow skaters to a fairly new skatepark in Upstate New York, just outside of Ithaca, NY.

The park is located in Central Lansing New York, next door to Rogue’s Harbor Restaurant and Bar, and Gimme! Coffee, just outside of Ithaca – only about seven miles north on Rt34/East Shore Drive. The skatepark is right across the street from a great deli called The Sub Shop, and just down the road from a pizza and ice cream shop, Lakebreeze Pizzeria.  However, plan ahead and bring your own food on Sunday, they are both closed.

East Shore Skate Park is a skate and bike park built to have fun and progress. It is a place for new, young up and coming skaters/riders to learn – and also a great place for advanced riders to meet up for a good session.

The building that houses the park was once a grocery store the closed in the early 90’s.  The building sat empty for years, until the current owner bought it with hopes of storing heavy equipment. Overall the park has a nice flow to it and even though it is heavily populated with BMX riders you wouldn’t really notice because of the way the park was built and layed out. The ramps are good and solid and the halfpipe is nothing less than awesome and built very very well, no kinks that I could feel. The coping was a bit smaller than what I am used to, but it was nothing a few runs couldn’t cure.

The street course is equally as fun although I like to stick to the halfpipes thease days, the younger skaters were ripping it up.

The locals are also very friendly and the owner was super friendly and happy to show us around. They are constantly having events and even have a spring break camp coming up in April. I would recomend anyone who is near the Ithaca area to check out the place as I have been to a few parks lately that have honestly been a disapointment but East Shore Skatepark is definitly not one of them.

Visit there website at www.eastshoreskatepark.com for more info!

Here is a bit of footage of the skatepark!