August 3, 2008 - The biggest thing Karen Jones had done this year before the X Games was interview rock band Linkin Park for a television show in her native Brazil.

That interview moved down the list Saturday as Jones edged defending champion Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins to take the gold medal in the women’s skateboarding vert contest at the Home Depot Center.

“This is the thing I wanted the most,” Jones said. “It’s so stupid and I’m not supposed to like contests and care about it. I just sucked last year and the year before so I got obsessive about doing good on it.”

Given the jam session format of the event, Jones credited her victory to a combination of smaller tricks including varials and kick flips rather than to a signature move.

Another result of the format was conflict over whose turn it was to skate with two girls often going at the same time.

“It’s just different,” bronze medalist Mimi Knoop said. “It’s something you have to learn. It’s an etiquette and I don’t think the younger girls have really learned it. It’s a respect.”

LA Times

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August 2, 2008 - Elissa Steamer’s gold medal at the 2008 X Games cements her position at the top of her sport. But recognition still lags behind her male counterparts. The girls know how to rip and this year’s Women’s Street final proved it.  Marisa Dal Santo, Brazilian Leticia Bufoni and Steamer all threw down some great tricks including boardslides and 5-0s on the rail. During the second heat Steamer stuck a lofty, kick flip over the China gap with less than three seconds on the clock.

Last year, skating on her 21st birthday, Marisa Dal Santo came out of nowhere to edge into first place, unseating Steamer from the top spot for the first time in three years. This year, Steamer stepped up and took her title right back - winning her fourth overall gold medal at the X Games. (Second, third and fourth places went to Marisa, Amy Caron, and Leticia Bufoni.)

When Steamer began skateboarding 23 years ago, she had few women to skate with and learned how to ride with the guys. She didn’t really set out to be a trailblazer, but that’s the role she’s assumed and her most recent gold medal proves she’s still the one to watch.

Check out this Elissa Steamer Profile.

Skateboard Street Women’s Final Results Results from ESPN X GAMES 14 at The Event Deck at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, Calf. on Friday, August 1, 2008. (Final Standings)

Name / Hometown / Score

1. Elissa Steamer / San Francisco, Calif. / 87.83
2. Marisa Dal Santo / LaGrange, IL / 81.50
3. Amy Caron / Huntington Beach, Calif. / 80.00
4. Rachel Reinhard / Colorado Springs, Colo. / 78.00
5. Leticia Bufoni / Sao Paulo, Brazil / 77.00
6. Vanessa Torres / Silver Lake, Calif. / 65.08
7. Evie Bouilliart / Huntington Beach, Calif. / 60.33
8. Lorena Lima / Sayreville, N.J. / 46.83
9. Lauren Perkins / Huntington Beach, Calif. / 42.83
10. Sophie Poppe / Destelbergen, Belgium / 23.25

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August 1, 2008 - Just because it’s summer here, doesn’t mean snowboarders put their gear away and head to the beach. Many professional riders head south of the equator to find winter elsewhere.

A number of top snowboarders could be found at the Burton New Zealand Open held this week.  As the first event on the annual Burton Global Open Series, the NZ Open is the competitors’ first chance to make a play for the 2009 championship title worth $100,000 – the largest single payout in competitive snowboarding today.

Eighteen year old Jamie Anderson, without a doubt one of the most talented female snowboarders in the world, dominated the competition Friday  to take the top spot on the podium in the Slopestyle finals.  Cheryl Mass was a distant second with a 66.00 and Spencer O’Brien was third with a 65.33.

There was also a Quarterpipe Jam held, with hometown hero Juliane Bray winning for the women.  Kelly Clark took  highest air and best trick honors.

Keep reading for a full breakdown of the day’s action and  visit the official site.

(more…)

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July 30, 2008 - X Games 14 begins it’s annual four-day run today in Los Angeles. The Olympics of extreme sports returns with a number of new events,  including skateboard superpark,  a moto X “best whip” competition, and rally car racing.

Skateboarding is still the heart and soul of the event but sadly, surfing, perhaps the perfect action sport, is not part of the competition this year. As always, the X Games is primarily targeted to young, male viewers but there are a couple of events for those without a Y chromosome.

On the girl’s side, women’s motocross has been added to the sports line up and world-renowned competitors, such Jessica Patterson and 17-year-old WMA Pro National phenom Ashley Fiolek, will be on the course.

Women’s sketboarding will also be featured and confirmed street skaters include: Lacey Baker, Evie Bouilliart, Leticia Bufoni, Amy Caron, Marisa Del Santo, Lorena Lima, Lauren Perkins, Rachel Reinhard, Elissa Steamer and Vanessa Torres.

In the vert event, look for Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins, Allysha Bergado, Cara-Beth Burnside, Karen Jones, Julie Kindstrand, Mimi Knoop, Gaby Ponce, and Annie Sullivan.

Coverage of X Games 14 will include 20 hours of live programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, July 31-August 3. But if you live in the area, slip into a pair of Vans, and head down to the Staples Center or Home Depot Center for all the action.

Check out the EXPN website for a full schedule and list competitors.

Filed under: Action, Motocross, Skateboard, X Games by jane
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July 30, 2008 - Defending series champion Jessica Patterson took her first win of the 2008 season in round four of the six-race AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship series. After finishing second in the weekend’s first moto, Patterson capitalized on a great start in moto two to take the moto win and overall victory in Washougal, Wash.

Series points leader Ashley Fiolek came up short in her bid for a fourth straight overall win, but finished second overall after taking the victory of moto one and the runner-up spot behind Patterson in moto two.

Both will be competing in the X Games taking place this week in Los Angeles.

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July 19, 2008 - You may know that the Palms Casino and the NBA’s Sacramento Kings are owned by the Maloof brothers. But did you know the Maloofs are also into skateboarding?

Well, the Maloof Money Cup Skateboarding Competition took place last weekend at the OC Fairgrounds and skaters showed up for the biggest cash prize ever offered in professional skateboarding.

Just to prove that the Maloof’s know cool, they designed a realistic street course that doesn’t look like some flung together ramps and platforms. It looks like a real street spot, like your skate-buddies found some abandoned industrial zone packed with fat gaps and rails to grind.

The US Women‟s Pro Street Championship included the largest first prize in women‟s skateboarding with $25,000 going to Lacey Baker (sweet). She was followed on the leaderboard by Rachel Reinhard, Vanessa Torres, Elissa Steamer and Leticia Bufoni from Brazil.

Filed under: Action, News Bytes, Skateboard by jane
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July 3, 2008 - In the midst of all that’s happening this month,  the annual ESPY Awards will take place in LA to honor the coolest & best star athletes and memorable moments from the past year.

Nominees for the 16th annual ESPYs, which will be televised July 20 were announced this week in 37 categories. Votes — there were 12.5 million last year — can be sent in online or via mobile phone.

Major nods this year for Best Female Athlete include Danica Patrick (also a presenter), golfer Lorena Ochoa, baller Candace Parker and skier Lindsey Vonn.

Among the nominations for best moment are Danica Patrick’s win of the Indy Japan 300; and the Central Washington University’s sportsmanship when members of the team carried Western Oregon University’s Sara Tucolsky around the bases after she collapsed in a playoff game.  

In case you missed the latter, Tucolsky hit her very first home run ever only to come up lame going around first. Since rules state that if any teammate touches you on the base path you are automatically out, the other team picked her up and carried her around the base path so her first home run would count.

Women’s Motocross multi-time National Champion Jessica Patterson has also been nominated for a 2008 ESPY award in the Female Action Sports category. The 25-year-old racer dominated the 2007 AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship winning an impressive 10 out of 12 motos and the title.

Other nominations in the category include: Snowboarders Gretchen Bleiler and Lindsey Jacobellis, and Surfer Stephanie Gilmore. Steph - btw- has the honor of being the only professional surfer, male or female, to be nominated for any ESPY award in 2008. In 2007, she was not only the first surfer (male or female) to ever win an ASP World Title their rookie year, but she also scalped 4 out of 8 event victories on the elite ASP Women’s World Tour.

The ESPYS, Excellence in Sports Performance, is a premier sports awards event, put on by ESPN, that honors individual and team athletic achievements and other sports-related performances each year. Other gals nominated for 2008 awards include Allyson Felix, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Rachel Dawson, Justine Henin, Pat Summitt, Diana Taurasi, Angela Tincher and more.

This year’s event will be hosted by Justin Timberlake (not exactly sure why but hey - we love him) and take place July 16th at the Nokia Theatre. The winner of each category is decided by fan votes,  so visit www.espys.tv to cast your ballot. Voting continues through July 12th and fans of women’s sports are encouraged to vote for their fave female athlete. Lets give the girls the recognition they deserve!

Filed under: Action, Entertainment, TV by jane
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July 1, 2008 - After five years as a regular fixture of the Summer X Games, surfing has been dropped as one of the featured events. This year’s X Games will host several new disciplines, including Women’s Moto X Racing, but surfing will not be included in the world’s most visible action sports gala.

Slated to go down at Puerto Escondido over a four-day waiting period this week - dates that overlap with the Billabong Pro J-Bay - the X Games surf competition apparently was unable to get the big WCT names they wanted. And by big names we mean Kelly (Slater), Andy and Bruce (Irons), Taj (Burrow),  Mick (Fanning), Dane (Reynolds), and Jordy (Smith).

No mention of the ladies, who were finally added to the event last year. The 2007 U.S. vs. the World format featured legendary surfers Lisa Andersen and Layne Beachley as opposing coaches. The former is a four-time world champion and the inspiration behind the Roxy brand. The latter is a seven-time champion from Australia.

Guess the move to the Mexican Pipeline in search of gnarlier waves, nor the addition of the ladies, was enough to save the event. 

Although surfing at X Games is definitely off for this year, it may be revisited next year. Stay tuned.

Filed under: News Bytes, Surfing, X Games by jane
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May 28, 2008 - X Games 14 will take place July 31 -August 3 at The Home Depot Center and STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Returning to Puerto Escondido, X Games Surfing will take the stage July 7-11 at the famous “Mexican Pipeline” at Zicatela Beach. Fourteen hours of live X Games programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC -all showcased in high definition - will be air during the event.

X Games 14 will feature athletes from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in the following sports: BMX Freestyle (men only), Moto X, Skateboard, Surfing and Rally Car Racing (men only). Tickets for X Games 14 will be available for purchase June 19 at Ticketmaster and the box offices at STAPLES and The Home Depot Center. The following is the competition schedule:

All times listed are Pacific Time (PT).

Thursday, July 31
10 a.m. -12 p.m. Skateboard Street Men’s and Women’s Practice, STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center
12 p.m. -2 p.m. Skateboard Vert Women’s Practice, The Home Depot Center
2:30 p.m. -3:30 p.m. Moto X Racing Women’s Practice, The Home Depot Center

Friday, August 1
1 p.m. -2 p.m. Skateboard Street Women’s Practice, STAPLES Center
2 p.m. -2:45 p.m. Skateboard Street Women’s FINAL, STAPLES Center

Saturday, August 2
10 a.m. -11 a.m. Skateboard Vert Women’s Practice, The Home Depot Center
11 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Moto X Racing Women’s Practice, The Home Depot Center
11 a.m. -12 p.m. Skateboard Vert Women’s Final, The Home Depot Center
12 p.m. -1:30 p.m. Moto X Racing Women’s and Men’s Final, The Home Depot Center

Filed under: Action, Motocross, Skateboard, X Games by jane
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May 21, 2008 - This is really great news!

ESPN announced that Women’s Motocross will be added to the sports line up for X Games 14, joining the other sports of BMX Freestyle, Moto X, Skateboard, Rally Car Racing and Surfing. The Women’s Moto X Racing competition will include 10 of the top women motocross racers in the world competing for the gold medal in the first-time event.

“Adding women’s motocross to X Games this year is great timing and a perfect fit,” said Rick Alessandri, managing director, X Games Franchise. “We are committed to expanding the female participation at this world-class event, and the women’s motocross circuit demonstrates unbelievable talent deserving recognition on the X Games stage.”

Women’s Moto X Racing will have a main event consisting of 10 women motocross racers competing for medals and prize purse. World-renowned competitors, such as 17-year-old WMA Pro National phenomenon Ashley Fiolek, will be racing a 125cc 2-stroke or 250 4-stroke motorcycle. The competition will air live Saturday, August 2 at 4 p.m. ET on ABC.

Fiolek, who recently turned pro last year, said, “This is a huge step forward in women’s professional motocross. I feel honored to be asked to participate in the X Games and I am looking forward to a great race.”

Get ready for some wheel action…

Filed under: Motocross, News Bytes, X Games by jane
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