Speedy Gonzales Teams With Skateboarders Steve Caballero, Danny Gonzalez And Patrick Melcher For <i>Ándale Posse</i> Tour

(February 5, 2007 - Burbank, CA) — Speedy Gonzales, the “Fastest Mouse in all Mexico,” gained fame running circles around Sylvester the cat and Daffy Duck in the classic Warner Bros. cartoons. Now Speedy will be taking up a new sport when he sponsors a team of professional skateboarders for a six-week journey across America. Joining him on his Ándale Posse Tour will be top pros Danny Gonzalez and Patrick Melcher, with special guest appearances by skateboarding legend Steve Caballero.The tour will be anchored around weekend stops at skate parks in 12 cities, where the Ándale Posse will participate in exhibitions for the local skating community. At each stop they will be joined by other local pros, and will take part in skating demos, games, giveaways and autograph signings. In between tour stops, the Posse will drive coast to coast in a Speedy-customized cruiser and tow vehicle.The Ándale Posse will be filming a DVD of their tour, which will feature highlights from the skate park events plus additional footage of their adventures on the road. Web teasers from the filming will be posted on the website www.andaleposse.com, as well as skateboarding sites and popular online content sites.One of the goals of the tour is to provide exposure to up-and-coming skaters at the grassroots level. At each exhibition, locally-sponsored skaters will be able to take part in a Best Trick contest, which will be judged by the Ándale Posse and the crowd in attendance. The winner in each city will be featured on the DVD alongside Caballero, Gonzalez, Melcher and the other pros—and will become an honorary member of the Ándale Posse.The tour will include a limited-edition line of Speedy skateboards, T-shirts and hats, which will be available at the tour stops and select retailers. Vans, a longtime sponsor of Caballero, will be creating a limited-edition Speedy print available only on their website. Event attendees will be given special codes allowing them to access the print and customize their own Vans at vans.com. Powell skateboards, another of Caballero’s sponsors, is creating a limited-edition Speedy deck available only during the tour. Kraft Easy Mac will keep the Ándale Posse well fed by supplying cases of their food throughout the tour.Much like Speedy Gonzales himself, the members of the Ándale Posse possess quickness, dexterity and a thirst for adventure, not to mention a desire to test the limits of what can be done on a skateboard.Caballero, 42, has been redefining skateboarding for more than three decades. From being the world amateur pool champion at the age of 14 to being named “Skater of the Year” from 1981 to 1984, to skating in the closing ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics, Steve has excelled at all disciplines of the sport. He invented the “Caballerial,” (a fakie 360 ollie), which has become one of the most popular tricks in board sports, and has held many world records, including highest air on a vert ramp (11 feet) and longest board slide on a ramp (26 feet).Danny Gonzalez, whose childhood nickname was “Speedy,” has found the dream sponsor in the cartoon mouse. Considered one of the most creative skateboarders in the world, he has pioneered numerous tricks, including the wallride kickflip out, and the kickflip body varial to switch nosegrind. In 2006, he became the first person to ever wallride a ceiling. At the age of 27, he is currently making a comeback from a near career-ending knee injury.The third member of the Posse, Patrick Melcher, has been skating professionally for over a decade. The 29-year-old Los Angeles resident is regularly featured in skate videos such as 411 Video Magazine and Black Out. Known for his outgoing personality and unique wardrobe, Melcher’s aggressive yet technical skating style has made him a fan favorite at demos across the country. The Ándale Posse Tour will be making stops in the following cities: February 10 Orlando, FL; February 11 Tampa, FL; February 17 Jackson, MS; February 18 New Orleans, LA; February 24 San Antonio, TX; February 25 Austin, TX; March 3 El Paso, TX; March 4 Albuquerque, NM; March 10 Phoenix, AZ; March 11 Tucson, AZ; March 17 San Diego, CA and March 18 Orange County, CA # # #