ASR Unveils Packed Events and Seminar Schedule

Press Release

• August 20 2008
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San Juan Capistrano, CA (August 20, 2008) – ASR, the Action Sports Retailer Expo, transcends trade event status this September 4th-6th, by pulling together an incomparable three days of action sports industry events and seminars. Not only is ASR where action sports does a majority of its business for the coming season, but also as the place to network with 18,000 peers, while appreciating the unique vibe of action sports.

“The creative energy that the entire industry puts into ASR’s one-of-a-kind event schedule, puts ASR in a category of its own among trade events” says Andy Tompkins, ASR Group Show Director. “We make sure that our events are all located in and around the ASR main show floor, so buyers can maximize appointment time while still taking in the action sports community and educational aspects of the show.”

On the business end, ASR’s 23 free seminars provide a forum where retailers and exhibitors can learn from experts within and beyond the action sports industry. This September features an impressive line up on everything from obtaining financing, merchandising, preventing piracy and retail trends to building skate parks in your community and understanding the MMA marketplace.

The ASR/Seventeen Runway show puts young contemporary apparel and swim in motion twice during ASR. The flirty, fast paced ASR Runway theme “It’s Electric” comes alive on Thursday and Friday, September 4th and 5th, at 2:00 in Hall H.

At the root of all the lifestyle products are the boards themselves. IASC and ASR continue to champion the cause of skateboard manufacturers with a dedicated Skate Hardgoods area. Check out 30 hardgoods brands, discuss new initiatives with IASC and stop by CreateASkate, the mini-ramp, street course and the ASR Beer Garden in Hall A throughout the show.

Automatic Magazine throws down one of the best amateur skate contests of the year, the Battle Of the Shops™ which will culminate at ASR on Saturday, September 6th from 11AM-4PM. The nation’s top skate shops will be picking their four strongest ams to represent them on a selection of obstacles. Watch ZJ’s Boarding House defend their title in tough competition from Pharmacy, Pacific Drive, Val Surf and many more.

On the surf side of the business, ASR partners with SIMA to put the spotlight on shapers and surfboard materials in the Board Builders Pavilion, which will now sit front and center on the show floor. The “Billabong Art of Shaping, Hawaii Edition,” takes place in the Pavilion where over a dozen shapers including Eric Arakawa, Dick Brewer and Jeff Bushman will showcase the talent of Hawaii based shapers and craftsmen. A silent auction will run for the first two days of ASR with a “live” auction starting at 3PM on Friday, September 5th to benefit the Liquid Nation Ball.

Surf contest action comes to ASR this year with the Vans El Ponto Loco a 2-star WQS event being put on in conjunction with Sun Diego. The contest runs September 3rd-6th up the road from ASR at Ponto Beach in Carlsbad, CA.

Rusty brings out the creativity found in action sports with ‘Random Acts of Art,’ in conjunction with San Diego’s 94.9FM and Scion. Action sports’ most talented graphic artists display original art on Rusty surfboards, while participating in a free hand art exhibition that includes completely covering a Scion xB Hatchback with imagination, color and total freedom. ‘Random Act of Art’ will take place throughout ASR across from registration.

The Action Sports Environmental Coalition, ASEC, highlights the action sports industry’s steps toward sustainability. Stop by the ‘Green Room’ in meeting rooms 12,13 and 14 located on the mezzanine level of the main floor to check out natural product lines from action sports brands, sustainable business solutions and taste natural foods and beverages. Next door to the ‘Green Room’ in room 15A, the Grind for Life Chill Zone returns with an interactive industry-gathering place.

Shopping around for a job in action sports? Malakye.com returns with the Shmoozapalooza on Friday September 5, 2008 from 11AM to 4PM. New job opportunities abound, head up the escalator to meeting room 6B to find the right one for you.

Leaders of the action sports, music and film worlds cruise ASR to see what’s next in the industry, network with them at ASR. ASR September nights are the place to premiere snowboard films, attend the Liquid Nation Ball, see runway shows and hear new music. Check out Nixon’s Party Planner at the show for more details and for a complete schedule of show events please visit www.asrbiz.com.

ASR continues to be the most focused atmosphere for the business of action sports. Free buyer registration has been extended until August 29th! Register now at asrbiz.com