2009 China Invitational Dates and Athletes

ALLI’S SECOND ANNUAL CHINA INVITATIONAL DATES AND ATHLETES ANNOUNCED
 
NBC-Televised Beijing Event to Feature Skateboarding and BMX
 
Burr Ridge, Ill. – March 18, 2009 – The world's best action sports stars will be returning to Beijing for the second China Invitational May 8-10, 2009 at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, a 2008 Summer Olympic venue.  Part of Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, the China Invitational, features both skateboard (park and vert) and BMX (vert) competitions. The action sports event will be televised in the United States on NBC and across China on BTV6, the sports channel of Beijing TV as well as the China Sports Program Network. 
 
Some of the top skate and BMX athletes in the world are confirmed to compete in China, including skateboard park competitor Greg Lutzka of Hunting Beach, Calif. along with 2008 Skate Vert Dew Cup champion, Pierre Luc Gagnon of Montreal, Canada and skate vert legend Bob Burnquist of Brazil. Four-time BMX Vert Dew Cup champion Jamie Bestwick of England and Chad Kagy of Gilory, Calif. will join fellow Dew Tour BMX riders for intense competition on the vert ramp.
 
“We are thrilled to return to Beijing, China for the second consecutive year,” said Chris Prybylo, Alli Vice President. “Last year’s inaugural event was a huge a success and we’re excited to add BMX vert as a judged competition this year. The China Invitational will once again bring the best skateboard and BMX athletes in the world to the fans in China.” 
 
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring the China Invitational back in Beijing and at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium,” said Zhou Qiang, President of Xingyi New Media Investment Company. “Action sports has a global audience, and the best skateboard and BMX athletes in the world will be in Beijing to compete in the event. With strong event media partners, such as BTV 6, the sports channel of Beijing TV and China Sports Program Network, we believe China Invitational will continue to generate unprecedented Chinese interest in action sports.”
 
“I’m stoked on competing at this year’s China Invitational,” said Greg Lutzka, Dew Tour skateboard park athlete. “I’m really looking forward to competing in front of the Beijing fans and think this will be a great warm-up for the upcoming Dew Tour season.”
 
The point’s leaders in the skateboard vert and park and BMX vert disciplines were invited to the China Invitational based on their rankings at the end of the 2008 Dew Tour season. The complete list of confirmed athletes is as follows:
 
Skateboard Park
Greg Lutzka
Austen Seaholm
Rodolfo Ramos
Carlos De Andrade
Danilo Do Rosario
Fabrizio Santos
Chris Mendes

Skateboard Vert
Pierre Luc Gagnon
Andy Macdonald
Bob Burnquist
Adam Taylor
Sandro Dias
Buster Halterman
Renton Millar

BMX Vert
Jamie Bestwick
Chad Kagy
Simon Tabron
Steven McCann
Dennis McCoy
Jimmy Walker
Zack Warden

  NBC will broadcast the China Invitational on Sunday, June 14, 2009 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Time is subject to change so please check your local listings.  

For more go to www.allisports.com.