Catching Big Air With Kids Across America, Warner Bros.’ Irreverent Looney Tunes And International Action Sports Stars Team Up In The 2002 Taz Atti-Tour
(March 14, 2002 – Burbank, CA) – Kids can ramp it up with Taz and their extreme sports heroes, as Warner Bros. Consumer Products unleashes the “2002 Taz Atti-Tour,” an interactive action sports youth event series. The Taz Atti-Tour will roll into select Wal-Mart stores and weekend hot spots in 18 cities between April and September 2002. The events will feature top pro BMX bikers, skateboarders and inline skaters demonstrating huge airs and incredible stunts, and conducting group clinics for local action sports enthusiasts. The tour’s activities also include an open skatepark for kids to skate with the pros, amateur competitions, video games, music, autograph signings and more.
The 2002 Taz Atti-Tour follows on the heels of Warner Bros. Consumer Products’ successful, first venture into extreme sports when they partnered with ASA Events’ prestigious Mobile Skatepark Series (MSS) last year. This year’s expanded tour is a rare opportunity for local youth to ride with, and learn from, the world’s best extreme sports stars. The adrenaline-packed
Taz Atti-Tour is produced by ASA Events, the largest extreme sports event and television production company in the U.S.
"We are excited to be teaming with Wal-Mart to bring the Taz Atti-tour to action sports fans across the country," said Jordan Sollitto, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "The Looney Tunes characters are a perfect fit with the whirling, twirling, big air feats of the world-class athletes on the tour and we think fans of all ages will enjoy these adrenaline-pumping events."
As part of its 18-city schedule, the Taz Atti-Tour will roll into select Wal-Mart stores for two or three weekdays prior to weekend events at entertainment venues. Local up-and-coming action sports athletes will get to ride with their heroes on a 4,500-square-foot open skatepark and a
40-foot half-pipe. The Looney Tunes characters, including Tasmanian Devil and Bugs Bunny, will appear at the Taz Atti-Tour, bringing their own playful antics to the events.
One major component of the 2002 Taz Atti-Tour is the launch of an amateur version of the exclusive Taz Team Challenge concept. The Taz Team Challenge is the only event of its kind to feature professional BMX bikers, inline skaters and skateboarders on one team competing against other teams similarly comprised. Local amateur vert skaters will have the opportunity to participate in this unique team format. Tryouts for the Taz Team Challenge will be held at Wal-Mart tour stops, and qualifiers will compete at the weekend venues in front of enthusiastic crowds and pro judges. Teams will be judged on such elements as best trick, high air and vert doubles. For more information on the Taz Team Challenge and directions to the Wal-Mart locations and weekend venues, visit www.TazTour.com (launches April 2002).
Taz Atti-Tour/MSS Exclusive Elements (3 Cities):
The Taz Atti-Tour continues with the Mobile Skatepark Series (MSS) in three of the 18 cities -- San Diego, CA, Cincinnati, OH, and Baltimore, MD. Each MSS event lasts nine days and features top pro competition in skateboarding, freestyle BMX and inline skating, as well as an open 15,000-square-foot skatepark, live music and a variety of youth cultural activities. More than 90 of the world’s best action sports pros will be on-hand to perform at each MSS event, which also will include a pro Taz Team Challenge competition.
Taz Atti-Tour Talent:
The Taz Atti-Tour combines the world’s best athletes in extreme sports, with top ranked skateboarders, BMX riders and inline skaters taking to the air to perform exclusive demos and clinics in a super-charged atmosphere. The Taz Atti-Tour includes the following action sports athletes in addition to several others:
Taig Khris – X Games champion, Gravity Games champion and World champion inline skater
Shane “Tasmanian Devil” Yost – Former #1 ranked vert skater; currently ranked #2
John Parker – 2001 MTV Sports and Music Festival Champion
Richie Lopez – Only skateboarder besides Tony Hawk to successfully land a 900 spin
Jaren Grob – #1 ranked street skater in the world; current X Games Champion and World Champion
Jason Davies – English bike vert veteran and consistently ranked Top 10 rider
Jimmy Walker – Former Top 10 X Games bike finalist
John Comer – Inspirational skateboarding veteran For additional Taz Atti-Tour local event information and to download the required waiver form for riders under 18, visit www.TazTour.com. All those wishing to use the open skatepark must provide and wear their own protective gear, including helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. Warner Bros. Consumer Products is a division of Warner Bros., an AOL Time Warner Company, and is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world. Founded in 1994, the Aggressive Skaters Association (ASA) is the global governing body and the membership association dedicated to promoting skating around the world. The ASA’s sister company, ASA Events, runs, owns and sanctions more than 150 events worldwide each year at every level, from local amateur skatepark events to premiere professional competitions such as the ASA World Championships, the ESPN X Games and the NBC Gravity Games. For more information visit the ASA website at www.asaskate.com.# # #
Shane “Tasmanian Devil” Yost – Former #1 ranked vert skater; currently ranked #2
John Parker – 2001 MTV Sports and Music Festival Champion
Richie Lopez – Only skateboarder besides Tony Hawk to successfully land a 900 spin
Jaren Grob – #1 ranked street skater in the world; current X Games Champion and World Champion
Jason Davies – English bike vert veteran and consistently ranked Top 10 rider
Jimmy Walker – Former Top 10 X Games bike finalist
John Comer – Inspirational skateboarding veteran For additional Taz Atti-Tour local event information and to download the required waiver form for riders under 18, visit www.TazTour.com. All those wishing to use the open skatepark must provide and wear their own protective gear, including helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. Warner Bros. Consumer Products is a division of Warner Bros., an AOL Time Warner Company, and is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world. Founded in 1994, the Aggressive Skaters Association (ASA) is the global governing body and the membership association dedicated to promoting skating around the world. The ASA’s sister company, ASA Events, runs, owns and sanctions more than 150 events worldwide each year at every level, from local amateur skatepark events to premiere professional competitions such as the ASA World Championships, the ESPN X Games and the NBC Gravity Games. For more information visit the ASA website at www.asaskate.com.