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Skateboarder Danny Way to leap Great Wall
SYDNEY - Quiksilver, Global Village Media Group and MegaRamp Events recently
announced their sponsorship of world skateboarding champion Danny Way's attempt
to jump across the Great Wall of China on Saturday in Beijing.
The feat is scheduled to take place at the historic Juyongguan Gate, a landmark
site among the top tourist destinations of the Great Wall. Way, 31, of
Encinitas, California, already holds multiple world records, including two for
distance jumped (24m) and vertical height over a skateboard ramp (7.14m), and
was the first two-time winner of Thrasher magazine's "Skater of the Year"
award. These records, set last year, are merely the backdrop to Way's world
record-setting attempt in Beijing, where he will unveil 
his specially designed MegaRamp, and try to break both these records, plus
another for speed on a skateboard, in the dramatic attempt.
Way acknowledges the importance of the Quiksilver Great Wall Jump:
"Skateboarding has yet to realize its full potential, and by bringing this
event to the people of China and the rest of the world, I hope to contribute to
the future of skateboarding and the global attention this sport can achieve.
Every jump presents a unique set of challenges and this jump is no exception,
but I have made all the necessary mental and physical preparations."
The Beijing MegaRamp will be the largest skateboarding structure ever built at
36.58m high, with a gap distance of 22.86-27.43m and a quarter-pipe height of
9.14m. The roll-in angle will measure 60 degrees, and may see Way break the
skateboard speed record on his descent. Work on the MegaRamp construction
started this week thanks to the facilitation of the Xiang Yu Cultural
Production Agency, who worked diligently with the China Cultural department to
secure the right to use the world famous site. As of July 8, with about 28
hours to go before the jump, Way had arrived at Juyongguan to inspect the
completed ramp.
Corporate sponsors for the jump included Quiksilver, the world leaders in
action sports; DC Shoes; the visionary Global Village Media Group (GVMG);
Dragon TV; and Los Angeles-based MegaRamp Events, which are presenting the
world record attempt with the blessing and cooperation of the People's Republic
of China. Quiksilver's Greater China marketing director, Ryan Hollis, said: "As
industry leaders, Quiksilver is proud to offer this spectacular event to the
Chinese people. Through this we hope more people will understand and appreciate
action sports. The edge, energy and passion of skateboarding, pegged against
the strength and weight of the Great Wall, will hopefully ignite a spark among
Chinese youth for the sport, the lifestyle, and the spirit."
Global Village Media Group CEO David Tumaroff said: "The great feat of Danny
Way jumping over the Great Wall and accomplishing his own dream should be an
inspiration to the youth in China. Danny Way shows us it is possible to realize
our dreams, and it is the essence of challenging our own extreme spirit."
Global Village Media Group is excited to be staging the jump in conjunction
with Quiksilver and MegaRamp, and the satellite events co-produced by Dragon TV
will unify the spirit of the entire day.
Danny Way is no stranger to life's challenges. Since the age of six he has been
well on his way to legendary status as a skateboarder. As one of the youngest
ever sponsored skaters at 14, Way has consistently pursued excellence. Despite
personal setbacks and crippling injuries, including a broken neck in 1994, a
dislocated shoulder, and injuries requiring seven surgeries between 1999 and
2002, Way has continually proven his athletic skills as well as his dedication
to the progression of his sport. Highly regarded within the action sports
community as a pioneer and a visionary, Danny has repeatedly challenged the
limitations set by other athletes and himself, breaking his own records when no
one else could.
In 1997 Way became the first and only skateboarder in history to drop out of a
helicopter into a skate ramp, adding the term "bomb drop" to the skating
lexicon. In 2004, Way again broke his own world records with a distance of 24m
and unaided height of 7.14m during the X Games held in Los Angeles, California.
Numerous jumps of The Great Wall have been attempted over the years, some more
successful than others including an horrific BMX accident that left one man
dead in 2002, but Way will be the first to attempt the jump on a skateboard. "I
am aware of the dangers but I am also excited to be achieving a life-long goal
and honored to have my visions embraced by the people of China," said Way. He
conceived the feat several years ago while on a flight to Asia. But there
seemed little chance the jump would become reality until Way met the right
official about a year ago: the chairman of the China Extreme Sports
Association, a government body created to oversee extreme sports in the
country.
For centuries, the Great Wall of China was the most daunting defensive
structure on earth, symbolizing the strength and innovation of the people it
protected. On July 9, one man is honoring that strength and innovation,
simultaneously focusing the world's attention on a proud nation and a
progressive endeavor as he attempts an unprecedented world record for
skateboarding.
The great feat will be re-broadcast globally via ESPN (North America),
Eurosport (Europe), Extreme Channel (Europe, Middle East), Channel Four (UK),
Fox Sports Net (Australia), and TBS (Japan), reaching billions of viewers and
enthusiasts. Live streaming coverage on the internet (the attempt has a
dedicated web page) is also planned.
(Asia Pulse) |
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