ASEC Action!

Industry-wide Eco Standard Supported at X-Games

Action Sports Athletes, Corporate Members Celebrate Green X Games and Soon-to-be Green Industry with Action Sports Environmental Coalition

Los Angeles, CA – Aug. 4, 2007 – The Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC) announced today at X Games 13 a groundbreaking, industry-wide initiative to establish an environmental standard for the Action Sports industry. In a move of solidarity, numerous athletes, including skateboarders Bob Burnquist and Danny Way, stood on the half pipe at The Home Depot Center along side industry representatives.

“As athletes, we’re united in support of ASEC’s environmental agenda,” professional skateboarder Bob Burnquist said. “As a community and an industry, we’re proud to be the first to pursue an eco-standard and to really reach out and educate people about the importance of environmental awareness.”

To support the eco-initiative, ASEC also announced partnerships with MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry), the leading environmental design consultancy, Wasserman Media Group, which will be assisting with the Coalition’s fundraising efforts and athlete outreach, and Qorvis Communications, which will be ASEC’s communications and coalition development advisor.

To develop the industry’s eco-standard, MBDC will be working with ASEC corporate members – which include such companies as Quiksilver, Hurley, PS Stix, Comet Skateboards, retailer Zumiez and others – to benchmark their impact on the environment and to create a path for how they can work together to improve.

“When it comes to being green, ASEC understands that it’s important to do more than just be less bad. You have to do more good,” MBDC’s Co-founder and Principal William McDonough remarked. “As the first industry coalition to pursue a Cradle to Cradle^(SM) design approach, ASEC is setting the standard for their community peers, as well as for other industries.”

“ASEC and its members are grateful for the support of all of these amazing athletes, as well as X Games and Environmentality, as we pursue a united environmental agenda,” said ASEC’s Executive Director Frank Scura, who added: “Its not enough to ride the current wave of environmentalism. You have to make waves – big ones, and that’s what Action Sports is going to be doing.”

About MBDC

MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry) is a consultancy founded in 1995 by the world-renowned architect William McDonough and innovative chemist Michael Braungart to reorient the design of products, processes and systems to provide environmental, societal and financial benefits. MBDC and its co-founders developed the innovative Cradle to Cradle(SM) paradigm, a unique vision and leadership strategy for industry to realize practical, profitable ecologically intelligent product design and expand the definition of quality. For more information on MBDC and Cradle to Cradle(SM) Certification, please visit www.mbdc.com and www.c2ccertified.com. Cradle to Cradle(SM) is a trademark of MBDC.

About Wasserman Media Group

Wasserman Media Group, LLC (www.wmgllc.com) is a leading sports and entertainment management, marketing and content company, and its divisions collectively represent some of the industries’ most recognized athletes and brands. The management business handles top basketball, baseball, soccer and action sports talent including Jason Giambi, Tracy McGrady, Hideki Matsui, Freddy Adu, Landon Donovan, Dave Mirra, Travis Pastrana and Chad Reed. WMG Marketing is the preeminent naming rights agency for popular sports and entertainment destinations, and connects properties and brands through corporate sponsorships and marketing programs. WMG Content operates Studio411, the largest action sports studio with comprehensive mass market and specialty retail distribution. Wasserman Media Group is also the holding company for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League. WMG has offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Washington D.C., Carlsbad and Charlotte.

About Qorvis

Qorvis Communications is one of the nation’s largest independent communications firm. Formed in August 2000, Qorvis has offices in Washington, DC, and McLean, VA, and provides its clients with expertise in the areas of advertising, public and media relations, marketing communications, Internet campaigns, investor and financial relations, public affairs, grassroots and research and opinion surveys. For more information, visit www.qorvis.com. For Qorvis news, visit www.qorvisnews.com.

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We Go to Washington, Bring Skateboards, Make History

ASEC Testifies Before Senate, Meets With Congressional Members on Global Warming
Washington, DC – June 5, 2007 – World class skateboarder Bob Burnquist became a part of American history as the first person to bring a skateboard into the U.S. Capitol building in its 214 year history. Burnquist, joined by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), was on his way to the Senate dining room for lunch with fellow members of the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC). The ASEC crowd – consisting of ASEC Founder Frank Scura; former pro snowboarder Circe Wallace; X-Games winner Jen O’Brien; and Scott A. Murray, director of the ASEC / Toyota Bob Burnquist Global Cooling Challenge – was in Washington to support Tom Campion, ASEC member and founder of top retail chain Zumiez, who testified before the full Senate Environment & Public Works Committee. Campion was invited to discuss the impact of climate change on the winter sports industry and the importance of youth education to solving the problem.
“The Action Sports Environmental Coalition is proud to have had the opportunity to brief the Senate on our understanding of how climate change is affecting the outdoor industry,” Campion said. “As athletes, we’re outdoors everyday – in the air, the water, on the snow and under the sun. So we’re intimately aware of the changing conditions of this planet.”

With a focus on testimony from leaders in the outdoor recreation industry, the May 24 committee hearing was attended by several Senate Members, including Chairman Boxer, Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bernard Sanders (I-VT). Following the hearing, ASEC Members were invited to lunch as honored guests of Senator Boxer in the Senate Dining Room for further discussion of the issues. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) stopped by the lunch to express her support.

ASEC Executive Director Frank Scura said: “I believe this introduction to Capitol Hill was the beginning of long-overdue conversation that our industry should be having with the lawmakers of our nation. I am inspired by Tom’s testimony, and – even more importantly – I am filled with hope.”

Regarding his historical feat, Burnquist remarked: “Going to Washington, DC as a skateboarder and citizen was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve ever had. I was proud to be able to bring awareness to what ASEC is doing and to be behind one of our own, Tom Campion. I was energized by the experience and I hope its not the last time that I get to support the cause by making a trip out to Capitol Hill – with or without my skateboard.”

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Scott Murray Presents BBGCC/Toyota Science Award

Scott Murray, the Director of the Bob Burnquist Global Cooling Challenge (BBGCC), traveled to Orlando, Florida in February to present a special award at the Dr. Nelson Ying Orange County Regional Science and Engineering Fair. The Special Recognition for Environmental Projects award, presented by Toyota and the BBGCC, was given to four projects, two in the Junior (middle school) division, and two for the Senior (high school) division. Scott handed out the awards, along with autographed posters from Bob Burnquist himself, to Christina Arthur (Apopka Memorial Middle School), Eric Cruz (International Community School), Elizabeth Qu (University High School), and Joseph Henry and Maureen Williams (Bishop Moore Catholic High School). While there, Scott also met with Orange County Public Schools’ Takumi Sato, who has been pre-screening schools and teachers in the district for selection as BBGCC project schools. Susan Leeds at Howard Middle School and Kaaren Ritter of Olympia High School, both Science Department Chairs at their schools, are currently discussing the particulars with Scott and Takumi; we’ll have more news when everything is finalized. Scott then spent a few short days at home before jetting off to London for a conference on global warming; check the ASEC site soon for his report on that.

Read more about the BBGCC here @ ASEC Features.

Photo caption: Scott Murray stands with the students who were honored with the Special Recognition for Environmental Projects award from Toyota and the BBGCC. Photo provided by Takumi Sato, Orange County Public Schools.

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