Fourth annual Portland Action Sports Film Contest underway

The Oregon Sports Authority’s fourth annual Portland Action Sports Film Contest is offering amateur filmmakers the chance to show off their filmmaking skills as Portland gets set for the AST Dew Tour’s Wendy’s Invitational, August 21-24 at the Rose Quarter.  Films less than five minutes in length can be submitted online at www.oregonsports.org/action by August 8.  Action sports fans are encouraged to rate and comment on each of the films submitted.  The film contest winner will have their film shown on the Rose Garden big screen during the AST Dew Tour, plus receive four VIP passes to the event.

“We’re excited to provide this opportunity for both amateur filmmakers and fans of action sports,” said Fritz Brumder of the Oregon Sports Authority’s Advisory Council, which launched the inaugural Portland Action Sports Film Contest in conjunction with the AST Dew Tour in 2005.  “We’ve had some amazing films submitted over the years, snow, skate and surf.”

The 2008 AST Dew Tour kicked off last month with the Panasonic Open in Baltimore.  Competition winners included Blake Williams in freestyle motocross, Ryan Sheckler in skateboard park, Bucky Lasek in skateboard vert, Daniel Dhers in BMX park, Jaime Bestwick in BMX vert and Ryan Nyquist in BMX dirt.  The AST Dew Tour consists of five major, multi-sport events spanning across the country, with a cumulative points system, a $2.5 million competitive purse – the largest in action sports – and an additional $1 million bonus pool.  Each event features skateboarding (park and vert), BMX (park, vert, and dirt) and freestyle motocross.  Key lifestyle elements at each Tour event include the Festival village, specialty competitions, and live cutting edge music.  More information can be found at www.ast.com.

The mission of the Oregon Sports Authority is to position the state of Oregon as the preferred location for select amateur and professional sports events, franchises and related activities in order to enhance the quality of life of Oregonians and to stimulate the state’s economy.