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NEW YORK - September 10, 2008 - The AST Dew Tour begins its fourth event of the season on Thursday, September 11 with the Toyota Challenge at Salt Lake City's EnergySolutions Arena. More than 60,000 fans are expected at the four-day competition. The five-city tour also includes stops in Baltimore, Cleveland, Portland and Orlando.
More than 250 of the best action sports athletes in the world will be in Salt Lake City to compete in the four-day competition, including MTV "Life of Ryan" superstar Ryan Sheckler (Skateboard Park), and Olympic medalists Mike Day, who won the silver medal and Donny Robinson, who took home the bronze in the inaugural BMX Supercross event, along with FMX superstars Nate Adams, Mike Mason, and Robbie Maddison.
Please make note that during the event traffic traveling on 300 West will be diverted. If heading Northbound on 300 West, turn right on 200 South. At the next light (200 West), turn left. Take 200 West three blocks to North Temple Street and turn left. Turn right on 300 West which is the next light.
If heading Southbound on 300 West turn left on North Temple Street. Turn right at 200 West which is the next light. Follow 200 West for three (3) blocks to 200 South and turn right. At 300 West (the first light ahead) turn left. Venue map attached.
Also taking place this weekend is the Japanese Festival at 100 South between 200 and 300 West.
Currently in its fourth year, the AST Dew Tour is the most watched and attended action sports property in the world. Attendance for the 2007 AST Dew Tour totaled 280,000 and an average of 41 million viewers tuned in via NBC and USA each year. The top athletes in the world will take part in this year's Tour, all competing for the highly coveted Dew Cup that will be awarded in Orlando at season's end to champions in each of the six disciplines. The 2007 Dew Cup winners include Nate Adams (Freestyle Motocross), Jamie Bestwick (BMX Vert), Ryan Nyquist (BMX Dirt), Daniel Dhers (BMX Park), Shaun White (Skateboard Vert) and Ryan Sheckler (Skateboard Park).
The Action Sports Tour (AST) is the recently created umbrella brand and organization of the world's most prestigious action sports events. Currently the AST consists of two national tours, one international event and an amateur series: AST Dew Tour (debuted in 2005), AST Winter Dew Tour (debuting in 2008), AST China (debuting in 2008), and Free Flow Tour (debuted in 2005). The AST properties are home to over 280,000 spectators each year and broadcast in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. The AST Dew Tour consists of five major, multi-sport events spanning across the country, with a cumulative points system, a $2.5 million competitive purse - the largest in action sports - and an additional $1 million bonus pool. Each event features skateboarding (park and vert), BMX (park, vert, and dirt) and freestyle motocross. At season's end, the overall point's leaders in the six disciplines are crowned year-end champions and awarded the prestigious Dew Cup. Key lifestyle elements at each Tour event include the Festival village, specialty competitions, and live cutting edge music. The AST Dew Tour partners include Mountain Dew (tour title sponsor); and Panasonic, Right Guard Xtreme, Wendy's, Toyota and PlayStation® (event title sponsors). Associate partners include Ball Park, Mongoose®, Nike 6.0, NowWhat.com and Verizon Wireless.
