TYSON EVANS Aleisha Cline shows off her
Female Skier of the Year award she received at the ESPN Action
Awards.
By Michael Sneag
Daily Bruin Contributor
Well, apparently music and sports do mix.
The second annual ESPN Action Sports & Music Awards were
held at the Universal Amphitheater on Saturday night. Awards were
presented in 17 categories including athlete of the year for BMX,
skateboarding, skiing, surfing, Motocross and snowboarding, showing
the wide range of extreme sports.
The ceremony, hosted by actor-comedian, Jay Mohr, featured
musical acts Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jay-Z and his all-star band,
Unwritten Law, 3rd Strike and X-Ecutioners as well as many
celebrities who acted as presenters.
A special achievement award was given to Matt Hoffman for his
contribution to the sport of bicycle freestyle. He graciously
accepted the award, saying, “Although it is a lifetime
achievement award, I feel that I am just getting
started.”
He thanked his parents for their support in letting him follow
his dreams, as well as his wife and new child. He also jokingly
thanked his doctor for patching him up many times over and allowing
him to continue doing what he loves most.
Among the notable recipients was Eric Koston, who received the
Skateboarder of the Year for the second time.
He was presented the award by the Original Bones Brigade,
composed of some of most influential early skateboarders,
highlighted by Tony Hawk. The Bones Brigade, who made some of the
earliest skate videos, was reunited for the first time in almost a
decade.
Also among the winners were Van Homan for BMX Rider of the Year
and Ricky Carmichael for Motocross Rider of the Year. Seth Morrison
won Male Skier of the Year while Aleisha Cline won on the
women’s side. Snowboarders of the Year were Kevin Jones and
Natasha Zurek. Mick Fanning and Keala Kennelly captured the awards
for Surfers of the Year.
A special award went to Jim Rippey. He received the
People’s Choice Actions Sports Feat of the Year Award for
landing a back flip on a snowmobile, beating out Matt Hoffman, Rob
Burnquist and Seth Morrison, who performed equally amazing tricks
on bicycles, skateboards and skis.
The fusion of action sports and music was highlighted by the
favorite musical artist chosen for each sport. Jay-Z
(skateboarding), Slayer (BMX), Pennywise (Motocross), OutKast
(skiing), Radiohead (snowboarding) and Jack Johnson (surfing) were
the recipients and showed the wide musical tastes of the action
sports culture.
Another special award went to the Chili Peppers, who received
the Action Sports Artist Contribution Award. According to Ron
Semiao, ESPN vice president and managing director of Global X, they
were being rewarded for being “an influential part of the
skate culture for many years. Street skateboarders listened to them
in the ’80s when the action sports genre wasn’t even
developed.”
Playing in the U.S. for the first time in more than a year, the
band showcased its ability to blend funk, punk, metal and rock,
closing the evening with an intense, energy-filled two-song set
that left the audience gasping for more.
Like every awards show, there were the requisite celebrities on
hand to show their faces (and skimpy outfits) as presenters.
The evening opened paparazzi style as the athletes, performers
and presenters arrived on the “Green Carpet,” a
lime-green carpet that put a whole new spin on the traditional
pre-show ceremony. Lil’ Kim, Pink, Coolio, Carmen Electra,
Nikki Schieler-Ziering, Tia Carrere and Tom Green, as well as a
host of extreme athletes led by Olympic Freestyle skier Johnny
Mosley, were on hand to give the show the necessary star power.
Vern Troyer, known to most people as Mini-Me from “Austin
Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” was also there and actually
accepted two of the awards when the athletes were not present to
accept them. Receiving one of the awards in the arms of Carmen
Electra, he echoed the thoughts of many, saying succinctly
“This is nice!”
In the past few years, the extreme sports world has grown
immensely as has the coverage and attention paid to the sports. The
idea for the award show emerged as a way to recognize the leaders
and innovators of the various action sports while trying to
incorporate the lifestyle that goes along with the culture.
As was showcased, the music plays a big part of the lifestyle of
these action sports. At most events for these sports there is a
constant soundtrack occurring not only in the background to keep
the crowds entertained but also often during the routines to pump
up the athletes.
As the sports have moved from “extreme” to slightly
more mainstream as evidenced by this awards show, the athletes have
tried to remain hip and cool enough. Tony Hawk was even overhead
saying that anybody who still refers to these sports as
“extreme” is no longer really part of the culture.
The fans also had a chance to be a part of the evening as they
voted online for the Viewers Choice Awards. Canadian punk rockers
Sum 41 were the winners in the Viewers Choice Music Artist
category.
The award winners were chosen by their peers while the Viewers
Choice awards was done entirely from the online poll.
By most accounts, the show was a success and will probably lead
to a third installment next year. Having the backing of ESPN and
Mountain Dew, who were the main sponsors, gives the show a base to
stand on for the future.
Trying to honor not only the current stars but also give credit
to the innovators of the different genres, the ceremony allowed old
school and new school to come together under one roof.
In the media tent after he received his award, Eric Koston
chatted it up with Tony Hawk.
Hawk, who has retired from competition and only does
exhibitions, got to talk with one of the rising stars of the sport
he helped bring attention to in recent years.
It was the epitome of what the show was all about ““
bringing the old school and the new together to promote their
sports, and adding Hollywood glitz to the mix.
Not a bad mix at all.