Schedule, roster of participants, zoomable map, glossary of 'extreme' terms. Acrobat PDF file 700k. (Randy Mazzola art) | ZOOM |

        Extreme sports lands in Cincinnati today, as the Mobile Skatepark Series takes over Sawyer Point for nine days. Event organizer Rick Bratman thinks the city is ready.

        “From what I've been hearing, people have been jazzed up about it,” said Bratman, president of Aggressive Skaters Association (ASA), the worldwide governing body for inline skating. “We think this is going to be a huge event.”

        Organizers expect approximately 60,000 fans to converge downtown. More than 90 world-class skateboarders, aggressive inliners and freestyle BMX riders will compete for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes.

        Also on the line: invitations to other major extreme events like the XGames, Gravity Games and World Championships.

        The event is free.

        Area amateurs can register to compete in the events.

        “Expect to see unbelievable aerial stunts and rail tricks that completely defy gravity,” Bratman said. “The tricks that these guys do are totally mind-blowing. Fans should bring their vocal chords.”

        Several of the athletes scheduled to appear include XGames legends and World champions such as American Ryan Nyquist, Jamie Bestwick (United Kingdom), Fabiola da Silva (Brazil), Taig Khris (France) and Eito Yasutoko (Japan). Fifteen counties will be represented.

        The first weekend of events start today with freestyle BMX demonstrations, followed by a best trick contest.

        Sunday will feature skateboarding demos and best trick competitions.

        One of the highlights Monday will be the Taz Team Challenge.

        Skateboarders, inline skaters and BMX pros will go head-to-head and try to outdo each other.

        “It's going to be wild,” said pro skater Shane Yost, who placed sixth in the vert at the 2000 X Games.

        After three days of competition, the street course will open to the general public ($8 for two-hour sessions) before the ASA Pro Tour and ASA Amateur Circuit Contest June 1-2.

        Tony Hawk, who helped bring skateboarding into the American mainstream starting in the late 1980s, will not make the trip to Cincinnati.

        “Tony is the busiest guy on the action circuit,” Bratman said. “His schedule didn't allow him to come to Cincinnati because it conflicted with his own skatepark tour.”

        But extreme athletes like Hawk did pave the way for events like the Mobile Skatepark Tour.

        “Our sport definitely went through a really big boom out of nowhere,” Yost said. “It went from being nothing to crazy.”

        Cincinnati is the first stop for the Mobile Skatepark Series. San Diego (June 15-21); Milwaukee (July 1-7); and Baltimore (Aug. 26-Sept. 2) follow.

        Cincinnati is the fifth stop on the ASA Pro Tour, which qualifies athletes for the X Games, Gravity Games and World Championships.

        The first two stops this season were in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

        Bratman said he hopes Cincinnati becomes a regular stop on the ASA tour.

        “Many of the cities we talked to were talking about one year,” he said. “Here, they (local organizers) were talking about making this a permanent home. We want this to be a long-term home.”

Sports Stories

Dayton QB suspended one game for DUI It's a grind, and the athletes love it Shaker Run will host USGA Publinx Bartholomew, Diaz share Corning lead Julian just happy to still be playing the game PGA Memorial results Texas twosome tango for lead Arena may play both Keller and Friedel Germany coping with injuries, lower expectations Maradona denied Japanese visa Mathis on verge of becoming world star Defending champion on quest to climb Indy 500 has fastest field ever No double-duty for Stewart Hasek confident, Roy desperate on eve of Game 4 Hockey a hot ticket in Carolina Kings 103, Lakers 90 Lakers done in by early mistakes against Kings Nets tend to bounce back after a bad game Spurs' Robinson to retire after 2002-03 season Withrow's Hunter out of NBA draft Baldwin resigns as USOC president Coming up this week

Braves 11, Reds 2
Reds box, runs
Boone: Griffey, Reds chemistry will mix
More playing time to Larkin's liking
Louisville 9, Ottawa 7
M's Martinez transferred to 60-day DL
NL roundup
AL roundup
Notes from Friday's games
Thompson engages mind, not body, in practice
Dolphins excited about Turner's offense
Eagles' Lewis promotes NFL in Asia, returns for camp
San Diego ponders whether it can afford to keep Chargers
Milford rolls to first district title
Freshman Detzel leads Colerain girls
Hartman heats up for Firebirds
Lebanon rolls into regional
Lewis, offense lead Anderson
McNick district champs
Preps results
Preps schedule