Holly has worked in the adrenaline sports industry for over eight years as a skydiving camera flyer and rock climbing instructor. She has over 2000 skydives, including 1200 camera jumps.

Check out Budge’s interview with “The Early Show” where she tells what it was like on the top of the world free falling into the record books.

October 29, 2008

Press release from ESPN:

“ESPN is proud to announce that the X Games and Winter X Games will feature equal prize money for both men and women in 2009. ESPN has been a leader in promoting and programming women’s athletics, and this recent action sports prize purse increase is the latest example. This past summer saw the X Games feature women’s motocross for the first time, and the upcoming Winter X Games will feature a host of female Olympic medalists from several different countries. Starting with Winter X Games 13 in January, 2009, men and women athletes at all X Games events will compete for equal cash awards. –John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president”

Much of the credit for the equal prize money goes to the Action Sports Alliance, a nonprofit organization that provides a voice for women skateboarders that lobbied ESPN executives as early as 2006 before X Games 12. In the current corporate and economic environment, it’s great when companies do the right thing.

The next Winter X Games,  set to remain in Aspen through 2010, will take place Jan. 22-25th.

Spectators from around the world can witness sports history with the 1st Asian Beach Games now underway in Bali, Indonesia. Conceived by the Olympic Council of Asia and currently scheduled every two years, the event features athletes from 43 countries participating in 18 sports. Some of those sports are played in North America. Many of them are not. All of them are way cool.

Obvious events like beach volleyball and surfing are included as are sailing, jet skiing, paragliding and marathon swimming. Participants can compete in other hybrid sports such as beach wrestling, beach waterpolo and beach soccer.

Some of the games, such as basketball, have to be adapted in order to be played on the sand. Beach basketball is similar to the hoops we all know and love except the basket has no backboard, just a net on a pole. The court is circular and there is no out of bounds. Shots from outside the circle are worth three points. Shots from inside the circle are worth two points. Obviously there is no dribbling possible so players move the ball by passing or taking two-and-a-half steps.

The Beach Games also features several sports that may fall far outside the American sporting consciousness.

One is Beach Kabaddi, a combative sport with teams of four players who try to score points by raiding their opponent’s court and touching as many defence players as possible without getting caught on a single breath. Kind of like an adrenaline-fueled game of tag.

Beach Pentjak Silat is a combative art of fighting and survival. A martial art form that has evolved in Indonesian and Malaysian civilizations into a social culture and tradition. Competitors use hands, elbows, arms, legs, knees and feet in attacks. Common techniques include kicking, hitting, tripping, sweeps, locks, takedowns, throws, strangles, and joint breaking.

Perhaps one of the most remarkable sports of the Beach Games is Beach Sepaktakraw, a Malaysian game that combines principles of soccer and volleyball. Players touch a rattan synthetic ball across a volleyball-style net using only their feet and heads.

Dragon Boat racing is a sport where a very long and narrow boat is powered by teams of 10 to 50 paddlers. It originated in China and dragon boats are always rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails and are required to carry a large drum aboard that leads the crew throughout a race with the rhythmic beating that indicates the timing and frequency of paddling strokes, from the cadence to picking up the pace to slowing down.

Not all the contests feature female competitors. Beach wrestling, for example, is for men only this year but most of the games do welcome women participants. Windsurfing, triathlon, dragon boat racing and woodball all have female entrants.

What fun to train and what fun to participate. Clearly, these Games, which continue through Oct. 26th, are more than just a day at the beach!

October 10, 2008

Saturday 27th September saw a great turn out to our first ladies only clinic held at Castaways Beach on the Sunshine Coast.

Special guest Rebecca Colefax (Nicholson), 2003 KPWT World Women’s Champion, gave an inspirational talk and helped the ladies who attended with advice and support. 

Adventure Sports Kitesurf Australia’s senior instructor George Tarr and Noosa Kiteboarding’s senior instructor Mike Burrell took small groups of ladies through some trainer kite practice while Rebecca supported the more experienced kiters with information ranging from harness choice right through to how to start on those freestyle moves.

Rebecca then gave a final motivational question and answer time for any ladies considering kitesurfing along with the ladies who had started in the sport but had not managed to progress onto the board yet.

Visit www.kite-surf.com.au for further information and to keep and eye out for future clinics. Joint owner Adventure Sports Kitesurf Australia and female kiter Fiona Tarr is always happy to offer FREE and relevant advice to women either already kitesurfing or looking at getting into this awesome sport.

Thanks Fiona!

The world’s top pro skateboarders will be in attendance, throwing down all weekend at the etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest in California. And there’s one special organization that is committed to getting girls to represent at the event.

We recently spoke with Courtney Payne Taylor, head of GRO - Girls Riders Organization, about her group and their efforts to change beliefs about girls and skateboarding.

PT: Tell us about your organization…

CPT: GRO, Girls Riders Organization, is a non profit group on a mission to inspire, educate and support girls in action sports. Currently focused on skateboarding we hold events across the country educating ladies about skating and building over all community awareness. It is a group run entirely by girl skaters for all girl skaters. Find out more and get involved at girlsriders.org

PT: What’s GROs relationship with Etnies?

CPT: Etnies is GRO’s largest supporter and has been for the last two years. Etnies is also one company that has been supporting girls through sponsorships and girls contests when many other companies have not.

PT:  What’s the history of GvR? Who are some of the women skating this year?

CPT: This will be the fifth year for GvR. The main part of the contest, GvR is for guys street only. For this the stands are full. The contest also hosts a girls street, girls and guys bowl contest, and the Hometown Heros finals.

Girls have had their events since the first GvR event. For the girls, there is no division between goofy and regular, they skate like any other contest, against everyone. That really comes down to numbers. The more girls who skate and compete, the better chance there is of building two equally matched teams to battle for the GvR Girls title.

Some girls that skated last year and should be back again this year include:

Street - Elissa Steamer, Amy Caron, Vanessa Torres, Leticia Bufoni, Rachel Reinhard, Lauren Perkins, Lacey Baker and many more.

Bowl - Julie Kindstrand, Amelia Brodka, Alize Montes, Cressey Rice, Allysha Bergado and more

PT: Tell us about your “Call To Action” and why it’s so important.

CPT: The call to action is our chance to show that we care about girls skateboarding and want to see it continue and progress. If we don’t show we care when we, the kids and new riders look for it in the future it will not be there. This is a call to be on time for the girls and somehow represent your support. Not only that, for those of you ladies who ride and rip, the contest is open, so enter. No matter what, come and have a blast.

PT: What’s next for GRO?

CPT: 2008 has some more workshops and sessions coming to Southern California and Arizona, then ending at the Tampa Am in Florida. 2009 marks some big changes and new events. All the info will be on girlsriders.org as the dates are confirmed. If you want to stay in the loop, please send us your information (Full Name, email, City, State and Zip code) to be added to the mailing list. Remember, GRO is what you want to make it so send us your ideas, get involved, lets make a change.

So, if you live in SoCal, and you’re looking for something to do this weekend, GRO has some very specific suggestions for showing your support:

Step 1 - Plan to be at Lake Forest Skatepark Friday by 1:30pm and Saturday by 11:00am.
Step 2 - Tell ten of your friends to check out this page and begin from Step 1.
Step 3 - Gather clothes and supplies; pink or purple clothes, markers, poster board.
Step 4 - Be creative. Decorate clothes and signs showing your love for the girl skaters.
Step 5 - On that weekend, gather your friends and show up on time for the girls.
Step 6 - Cheer loud and fill the stands.
Step 7 - Go to the Freshpark Ramps and skate the GRO GGOB (Girls Get on Board) Workshop with the Pros.
Step 8 - Start planning the date for the first weekend in October 2009!

For the complete event and band schedule, visit GRO.

DELMONT, Pa. (August 31, 2008) – American Honda/Red Bull/Alpinestars’ rookie rider Ashley Fiolek claimed her first career title in the season finale of AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship Presented by Kawasaki from Steel City Raceway, earning her fourth win of the season at the T-Mobile Sidekick Final Round, part of the American Motocross Festival.
 
In the first moto of the weekend, Fiolek sped out of the gates to the Meterman Holeshot Award and held off the advances of American Honda/Honda of Houston/Fox Racing/Bad Boy Energy Drink’s Jessica Patterson early on to take the win and seal the championship heading into Saturday’s final moto.
 
Fiolek was the first to the line again in moto two, sweeping the holeshots for the weekend. With the title in hand, she rode conservatively as Patterson and Yamaha, Jayco, Etnies, FMF, Answer Racing’s Tarah Gieger battled out front. In her best moto of the season, Gieger raced to the front and grabbed her first and only moto win of the season, helping her to third overall. Patterson’s pair of runner-up finishes placed her second overall.
 
“After winning the moto yesterday, I just didn’t want to force the issue today,” explained Fiolek, who became the first deaf women’s champion. “(I’ve) learned it takes a lot to be competitive in the WMA and it’s been a learning experience all year. I thought there would be good battles, but I didn’t (expect) the championship.”
 
Fiolek edged out the five-time champion Patterson by 29 points in the final standings.
 
AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship Presented by Kawasaki
Steel City Raceway – Delmont, Pa.
August 29-30, 2008
Round 6 of 6
 
AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship (Moto Finish)

1. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 1-3
2. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 2-2
3. Tarah Gieger, Vero Beach, Fla., Yamaha, 4-1
4. Sherri Cruse, Bakersfield, Calif., Suzuki, 3-4
5. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Kawasaki, 6-5
6. Kirsten Raemisch, Madison, Wis., 7-6
7. Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., Suzuki, 8-7
8. Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 9-8
9. Kimberly Kocher, Paris, Ohio, KTM, 12-9
10. April Zastrow, Kuna, Idaho, Honda, 11-12

AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship Points

1. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 276
2. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 247
3. Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., Suzuki, 200
4. Tarah Gieger, Vero Beach, Calif., Yamaha, 198
5. Sherri Cruse, Bakersfield, Calif., Suzuki, 198
6. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Kawasaki, 165
7. Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 138
8. Tatum Sik, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 126
9. Ayla Cabus, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 115
10. Alisa Nix, Ukiah, Calif., Yamaha, 105

For full results, log onto www.wmaracing.com http://www.wmaracing.com .
 

August 3, 2008

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

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

August 1, 2008

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…)

July 30, 2008

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.