The Tattoo
--- Making a Permanent Impression Since 1994 ---
May 7, 2001
By Mike Nguyen
Sun,
skates, and a whole lot of teenagers are expected to attend the exciting and
gravity-defying X Trials this summer, coming this year to Grand Prairie, Texas
and ESPN's home sweet home: Bristol, Conn.
And
what better place to throw a Generation X event than Lake Compounce, the oldest
running theme park in the nation?
This
weekend extravaganza will take place June 15-17, just in time for Father's Day
and will feature a variety of sports, including "men's and women's park and
vert aggressive inline skating; flatland, park and vert bicycle stunt and park
and vert skateboarding," according to the press release by ESPN.
If
you have no clue what any of that means, it’s not for the faint-hearted. Just
think lots people in the air with bikes, Roller Blades, and skateboards.
The
X Trials started in 1997 as an afterthought following the successful debut of
the X Games itself in Providence, R.I. and Orlando, Fla. This year's 7th annual
summer games will be held in Philadelphia starting Aug. 17. Just hope no one
tries to ollie over that Liberty Bell.
But
back to this year's X Trials. There are two qualifying rounds for the X Games
– the first will be held in Texas in a couple of weeks – and then the final
Trials will be in Bristol.
The
Trials will be taped (yes, that means anyone who is there might be on
international television) and covered extensively by ESPN, Bristol's shining
sports network. The tapes will be shown over the summer a number of times on the
network.
It's
about time it held an event in its hometown, don't you think?
And
since ESPN's hosting this shindig, expect some just as big names in the extreme
sports league.
Although
not confirmed, skater star Colin McKay and BMX bike gods Dave Mirra and Ryan
Nyquist are just some of the names expected to travel to Bristol for the Trials.
And
yes, even Tony Hawk, the skateboard legend himself, is slated to grace Lake
Compounce with his presence. Yes, he's the one that made the top-selling video
game, Tony Hawk Pro Skater.
Oh
yeah, did we mention it’s free? That’s right, you won’t need to spend a
dime on admission into Lake Compounce to see the event, but it wouldn’t hurt
spending a few extra bucks to try the new Boulder Dash roller coaster while
you’re there.
But,
anyone can release his or her extremeness at the Xperience, "a free of
charge interactive zone where spectators of all ages can ‘do what they
view'," according to the X Trials flyer.
What
exactly are these spectators going to view? Sport climbing, skateboarding,
and bungee jumping.
Again,
not for the faint-hearted to watch.
Hey,
things like this don't come every day in Connecticut. The event is expected to
bring tens of thousands of people into Bristol from around the region and
extreme sports world, not counting the millions of TV viewers who will watch.
So
if you can, grab your board, your bike, or your blades, and slide on down to
Lake Compounce for an exciting weekend of wheels and gravity.
Can't
make it personally? No problem. The
Tattoo,
your favorite teen-filled newspaper, will be recapping the days' events and
getting you behind the scenes at the Trials with your favorite and
not-so-favorite stars on the spot.
All of this will be available through our website at www.ReadTheTattoo.com, so check us out on the Internet if you can't make it to the real event.