Maloof Money Cup

MALOOF MONEY CUP TO FEATURE LARGEST PURSE IN PROFESSIONAL SKATEBOARDING HISTORY

Joe Maloof, owner of the NBA‟s Sacramento Kings and the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, is embarking on the world of action sports with his announcement of the Maloof Money Cup (www.maloofmoneycup.com). A six-event, three- day festival focusing on the excitement and energy of skateboarding, the Maloof Money Cup will take place July 11-13, 2008 at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California during the opening weekend of the Orange County Fair.

Sanctioned as the National Championship by World Cup Skateboarding (www.wcsk8.com), the Maloof Money Cup will become the largest pursed event in the history of professional skateboarding with over $400,000 in prize money.

“I have been very impressed by the growth of skateboarding and action sports over the past several years, and have had a desire to find a way to get involved in what I feel is one of the most exciting sports going on right now,” said Maloof. “My family has always enjoyed sports and the promotion of sport, so I have put forth the resources to originate what I hope becomes the premier skateboarding-exclusive championship event.”

The Maloof Money Cup will include three professional United States Championship competitions, a United States amateur event, a youth skateboarding camp, and an interactive festival featuring action sport retailers and skateboarding activities. Highlighting the weekend‟s events will be the US Pro Street Championship, which will feature a $100,000 first prize and what promises to be the most innovative and intense street course in professional skateboarding today. Always a fan- favorite, the US Pro Vert Championship will award $75,000 and a tricked-out SUV to the winner who exhibits the best „big air‟ and „off-the-wall tricks‟ possible. The US Women‟s Pro Street Championship will include the largest first prize in women‟s professional skateboarding history with $25,000 going to the winner.

“World Cup Skateboarding is thrilled to be involved with the Maloof Money Cup. With a history of organizing professional skateboarding competitions around the world for the past 15 years, we are truly excited to finally see skateboarding come of age with a premier skateboarding-only event in the United States. Bringing the event to the Orange County Fairgrounds in Southern California, the energy center of the skateboarding industry and the birthplace of skateboarding, is like bringing it all home. We look forward to the future of this event,” states Don Bostick, founder of World Cup Skateboarding.

While fans will have a chance to enjoy the highest level of professional skateboarding in the specially-constructed stadium within the Grandstand Arena at the Fairgrounds, they will have their own chance to get into the action by taking part in the US Amateur Championship and/or the youth skateboarding camp. Over 40,000 square feet of space will be filled with action sports retailers and manufacturers in the etnies Village, featuring interactive games and skating skill activities for fans of all ages. Everyone who comes through the etnies Village will have a chance to win various prizes, including a brand new vehicle.

“This is going to be an event for the entire family,” says Maloof, whose family was recently ranked as one of the 100 most influential people in the World of Sports by Business Week. “Skateboarding and action sports have become a lifestyle with a unique and popular style of clothing, music, and technology. The etnies Village and our event as a whole will feature the latest and greatest within that lifestyle.”

As part of the Opening Weekend of the 2008 OC Fair, the Maloof Money Cup promises to bring fairgoers an exciting new event during the three-week annual carnival of fun at the Fairgrounds. Last year, over 180,000 people passed through the turnstiles during the opening weekend of the Fair and nearly 1.1 million patrons overall made their way to the OC Fair. The 2008 Orange County Fair (www.ocfair.com), located off the 405 and 55 freeways at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, will run from July 11 thru August 3 (closed Mondays).