ASA Entertainment and SEGA of America Partner for First-Ever “Sonic Generations of Skate”

THREE GENERATIONS OF THE WORLD’S BEST SKATERS BATTLE IN VENICE BEACH ON OCTOBER 22! 

New Contest Format Features Teams of Three Generations of Vert Skaters; Free Event Includes Mobile Skate Park with Pro Clinics and Open Sessions, Gaming Kiosks and More

LOS ANGELES (October 11, 2011) – ASA Entertainment today announced Sonic Generations of Skate — a partnership with Sega® of America to bring a brand new skateboarding experience to the famed Venice Beach boardwalk Saturday, October 22.

Sonic Generations of Skate is a completely unique team competition that pays homage to the three generations of vert skaters that have come through So Cal over the past few decades. Each team consists of one 40-something skater (first generation), one 30-something skater (second generation) and one teen/20-something skater (third generation) competing against other teams with the same mix.

“This concept has never been seen before and it’ll give the crowd an exciting show,” said pro skateboarder Pierre Luc Gagnon, who’s earned 16 X Games medals (seven of them gold), three of four Maloof Money Cup Vert championships and two Dew Tour Vert titles. “It’s going to be real cool for the kids to see the first generation of skaters that they never got a chance to see when they were growing up.”

There will be four different competitions where each pro will battle for team points against skaters from their own generation. The contests include individual runs, high air, best trick and team doubles. The biggest names in vert from the past and present are expected to represent their generation, including:

First Generation: Steve Caballero, Tony Hawk, Kevin Staab and Sergie Ventura

Second Generation: Andy Macdonald, Pierre Luc Gagnon, Sandro Dias and Lincoln Ueda

Third Generation: Adam Taylor, Elliot Sloan, Pedro Barros and Mitchie Brusco

“This format, inclusive of all generations, promises to be exciting and fun, and will give both dad and mini shred something to cheer for,” said Andy Macdonald, veteran pro skater who’s one of just four skaters who have competed at every X Games, with 21 X Games medals under his belt.

Sonic Generation of Skate also features a 4,500 sq. ft. mobile skate park experience where local skaters can skate with the pros in a series of sessions and private clinics. The event will also feature videogame stations with previews of Sega’s new Sonic Generations— where fans can preview the game one week before its official launch— autograph signings with pro skaters, giveaways and activities for all ages.

“ASA is always trying to develop events with unique formats and fresh concepts that bring something new to the table— both for the skaters and the crowd,” said Rick Bratman, CEO of ASA Entertainment. “Sega really understood that mentality and is a tremendous partner for this event. They have such a great history of setting trends in their own industry as proven by Sonic the Hedgehog reaching his 20th anniversary this year.”

The event kicks off at 11 a.m. at the corner of Ocean Front Walk and Windward Ave. (next to the basketball courts) on the historic Venice Beach boardwalk and will wrap up around 5 p.m.

“We’re excited to be a part of this event and enjoy gravity-defying tricks from three generations of the top skaters in the U.S. in celebration of Sonic’s 20th anniversary,” said Marcella Churchill, Director of Marketing at Sega of America. “Many of these skaters have grown up with Sonic and we are ecstatic to launch Sonic Generations at the birthplace of performance skateboarding with an event that honors the historic legacy of both Sonic the Hedgehog and the sport itself.”

Sonic Generations of Skate will be broadcast nationally on FOX Sports Net (FSN) beginning on November 25 at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Since broadcast schedules are subject to change, please check local listings for specific air times. For more detailed information on Sonic Generations of Skate visit www.sega.com/sonicskate. To pre-register for the street skate park experience, please visit www.sega.com/skatereg. To learn more about Sega or Sonic Generations, please visit www.sega.com. For ASA Entertainment, visit www.ASAEntertainment.com

About ASA Entertainment:
Founded in 1994, ASA Entertainment Group, LLC is an action sports event, television and content production agency focused on creating and executing customized, turn-key marketing programs that range in scale from grassroots to global. ASA’s events, featuring skateboarding, freestyle BMX, inline skating, freestyle motocross, snowboarding, surfing and music, are broadcast domestically on eight networks (including CBS and Fox Sports Net), and distributed to more than 700 million HH globally via 30 international broadcast partners. ASA’s productions span the spectrum from large, international competitions such as the ASA Action Sports World Tour, the World Championships of Freestyle Motocross, The Supergirl Jam Series, Air in the Square and the MegaRamp ASA Triples to amateur contests, lifestyle and branded entertainment events, demonstrations, exhibitions, school programs and mobile tours. After 17 years as a leader in action sports, ASA Entertainment regularly connects brands to consumers through its platform of premium action sports and lifestyle content. For more information, visit www.ASAentertainment.com.

About Sega® of America, Inc.:
Sega® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Sega® Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony Computer Entertainment. Sega of America’s web site is located at www.sega.com.

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