Tour’s Portland stop is big success to participants, officials, fans

For the fifth consecutive year, athletes, officials and fans labeled the Dew Tour’s stop in Portland, held over the weekend at the Rose Quarter, nothing short of a success.

A total of 47,680 attended over the four days and watched top athletes competing in the action sports of BMX, freestyle motocross and skateboarding. The attendance was down slightly from last year’s total of 51,000 but compares to other stops the Dew Tour has made this year, event officials said.

Sunday’s events, which wrapped up the third of the tour’s five stops this year, featured some old stars, an up-and-coming event and some outstanding performances.

The highlight of the day for most fans was the battle that took place on the BMX Park course, where podium staple and renowned BMX rider Dave Mirra, 35, battled with 19-year-old Garrett Reynolds for bragging rights.

– Excerpt from The Oregonian, August 17, 2009