ASR Helps Action Sports Industry Do Good, While Doing Well

ASR Helps Action Sports Industry Do Good, While Doing Well
From humanitarian to environmental causes, the industry works with Boarding for Breast Cancer, SurfAid, Surfrider, The Tony Hawk Foundation, Patrick Kerr Scholarship as well as Save the Music and various children’s charities at ASR

Laguna Beach, CA (August 4, 2005) – Coming off of the successful SurfAid tsunami relief effort launched at ASR January, ASR has become a platform for the action sport industry to support environmental and humanitarian causes. Action sports enthusiasts, a growing group of over 15 million participants, are remembering to give back, often through endemic charities. The 20,000 attendees of September’s ASR show in San Diego will be giving back to numerous causes and sharing gathered knowledge with others in their communities after the show.

“ASR and the action sports industry prove that you can be profitable while being socially and environmentally responsible,” says Kevin Flanagan, ASR Show Director.

In January, the action sports community joined forces to create BandTogether, providing funds and raising awareness for tsunami disaster relief. The effort raised over $40,000 in 3-days for SurfAid’s rescue and disease prevention efforts. The BandTogether wristbands will again be for sale at the SurfAid booth and ASR registration counters.  On September 10th, the second annual Liquid Nation Ball takes place in La Jolla to benefit SurfAid. At last years event, industry veterans, celebrities and pros raised $100,000 to help fight the spread of Malaria in the Mentawai islands.

“The tremendous support provided at ASR had a powerful and positive impact on the results SurfAid was able to achieve in Indo” says Andrew Griffiths, CEO of SurfAid. “It is an outstanding example of what the ASR network can help organizations accomplish.”

Fender is teaming up with Boarding for Breast Cancer and various celebrities to create a collection of custom decorated guitars. A silent auction of the guitars will take place at ASR September. Also at ASR, “Against the Grain” celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the debut of the 'twin fin' surfboard. Cutting edge shapers and founding members of the L.A. punk scene are working with Hurley International and Surfer Magazine to create one-of-a-kind boards to raise money for VH1’s Save the Music. Boards designed by members of the biggest bands in early punk rock such as the Ramones, Suicidal Tendencies, and the Dead Kennedys can be viewed at ASR. Additionally, ASR has donated a room to the California Surf Museum for a fundraising show of “The Ride – Back to the Soul of Surfing.”

The action sports industry is driven by the youth. Not forgetting that, a number of groups working for the kids will be on hand at ASR.  Gather information about the Tony Hawk Foundation at the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) booth or meet with the Patrick Kerr Scholarship crew that is sending skaters to college. The Skateboard FEUD, presented by Glacéau Vitamin Water and the Skateboard Mag, will bring the most influential industry personalities, retailers, and pro’s together to benefit — StandUp for Kids, Voices for Children, Children’s Hospital-San Diego, and The Ronald McDonald House.

ASR is taking an ecological approach to producing shows by utilizing its new GreenSteps program. ASR is making a commitment to recycling waste; trash and paper products, while helping exhibitors do the same. Additionally, for the first time, ASR will be powering its show utilizing pollution free wind energy. Learn how to take Greensteps home by checking in with the Surfrider Foundation. Surfrider is a grassroots, non-profit, environmental organization that works to protect our oceans, waves and beaches.

ABOUT ASR
ASR, a division of VNU Expositions, is a full service tradeshow whose goal is to create, market and produce high quality tradeshows and educational conferences.  ASR is the leading action sports industry trade event, bringing together top manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of surf, skate, snow, swim, style, moto and youth culture.  Now in its 24th successful year, ASR gathers over 500 action sports brands and approximately 7,000 retail buyers and decision makers three times a year, with Spring and Summer season shows in San Diego and ASR Fall in Huntington Beach. For additional information regarding ASR, please contact Lora Bodmer at Deep Communications by phone, 949.200.7134, email, [email protected], or check out www.asrbiz.com.