Action Sports Conference 2009

 
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Action Sports Conference
Ron Semiao closing remarks

 
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Ron Semiao
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What Sports Would Teens Most Like to Learn?

 
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Rick Alessandri
Managing Dir - ESPN X Games

 
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Rick Alessandri

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Kevin Robinson

 
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Kevin Robinson
Professional BMX Freestyle Rider

Kevin RobinsonKevin comes from a hard-working, blue-collar family from East Providence, Rhode Island. After a slow start to his pro career, Kevin took his family’s work ethic to the vert ramp and now finds himself consistently on the podium as one of the most progressive and creative vert riders in BMX. Kevin defines perseverance. After eleven X Games appearances and three bronze medals, Kevin finally had his dream season in 2006 when he took home two gold medals from X Games 12. In the BMX Vert Best Trick competition Kevin made history when he became the first to land the fabled double flair (two back flips with a 180 degree twist). Two days later at X Games he took his second gold medal in the inaugural BMX Big Air event. In 2007 Kevin added to his X Games medal collection a Bronze in BMX Vert and a Gold in BMX Big Air. He also took the honor of “Athlete of the Games”. Kevin’s most recent accomplishment was the Red Bull Experiment: Kevin Robinson. Kevin set a new BMX high air world record on June 12, 2008, in Central Park, NYC. The following Monday he appeared on The David Letterman Show. With all his success on his bike, Kevin’s most important role is being a family man. Kevin is a devoted husband to Robin and father of two.

Sponsors: Hoffman Bikes, Red Bull, Target, LG, The Junior Seau Foundation, Woodward Camp, GoPro

• 2008- BMX High Air World Record
• 2008- ESPY Nominee “Best Male Action Sport Athlete”
• 2008- Bronze Medal, X Games (Big Air)
• 2007- Most Outstanding Athlete of the Summer X Games
• 2007- Gold Medal, X Games (Big Air)
• 2007- Bronze Medal, X Games (Vert)
• 2007- 3rd place, AST Dew Tour, Orlando(Vert)
• 2007- Bronze Medal, LG/ASA, Phoenix (Vert)
• 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Featured performer Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam
• 2006- Gold Medal, X Games (Big Air)
• 2006- Gold Medal, X Games (Vert Best Trick)
• 2006- Trick of the Year, AST Dew Tour
• 2006- 3rd place overall standings, AST Dew Tour (Vert)
• 2006- 3rd place, AST Dew Tour, Louisville (Vert)
• 2006- 2nd place, AST Dew Tour, Portland (Vert)
• 2006- 3rd place, AST Dew Tour, Denver (Vert)
• 2006- Gold Medal, LG/ASA, San Diego (Vert)
• 2006- Bronze Medal, LG/ASA Championships, Dallas (Vert)

Scott Paridon

 
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Scott Paridon
Vice President of Production and Development, FUEL TV

Scott ParidonScott Paridon, Vice President of Production and Development for FUEL TV, joined the 24/7 action sports cable network when it launched in 2003 as Supervising Producer. He was promoted to VP in 2005 and is responsible for the sole management of FUEL TV’s 35-member production staff and their productions, technical operations, and in-house show development. He is also the Executive Producer of “The Daily Habit” and “The Weekly Update,” the highest-profile shows on FUEL TV.

He has guided FUEL TV’s in-house production team in the development and production of more than 120 original “Firsthand” episodes, the network’s signature half-hour athlete-profile series. He also helped create and develop “New Pollution” and “Camp Woodward,” where he also serves as Executive Producer. He and his team has led the creation of more than three dozen events and specials for FUEL TV and collaborates with independent producers in the creation new productions for the network.

Previously, Paridon was Supervising Producer for Bluetorch, Broadband Interactive Group’s (BIG) cross-media network of television, print publications, Internet, and major live action sports events. There, he oversaw the production and re-packaging of more than 165 episodes for Fox Sports Net and international distribution. He was also responsible for developing show concepts, script supervision, editing, and on-air promotion.

Through the course of his production career, he has also produced shows for E! Entertainment, VH-1 (“Behind the Music”), Inclyne Inc., 44 Blue Productions (ESPN), and The Game Show Network. He served as Associate Director for CBS Sports for the 1997 World Bobsled Championships and 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan.

Paridon attended Long Island University’s CW Post College in New York. Currently based in Southern California, he is married with two children. He is a huge college football fan and an avid, albeit not a very good, surfer and golfer.

Braden Dahl

 
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Braden Dahl
Strategic Business Unit Manager – Action Sports, New Era Cap Company

Braden DahlInside the industry for 10 years, Braden has helped build the action sports division of New Era’s global business, targeting strategic partnerships with a focus on skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, motocross, BMX, wakeboarding and street culture.

Directing the vision of the New Era brand within the action sports lifestyle segment, Braden has strategically aligned and built comprehensive marketing and product platforms with the most influential brands, including but not limited to; Oakley, DC Shoes, Billabong, Red Bull, Fox Racing, USA Surfing, Metal Mulisha, 686, and the Transworld Media group, as well as with premiere athletes such as Danny Way, Greg Lutzka, Ryan Sheckler, James Stewart and Carey Hart.

Before joining New Era in 2006, Braden handled marketing for MAG Acquisitions, a southern California company focused in the motorsports industry. Prior to that, he handled sports marketing for No Fear.

Mark Borden

 
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Mark Borden
Senior Editor — Fast Company magazin
e

Mark BordenMark Borden is a Senior Editor at Fast Company magazine. His primary beat is creativity and how individuals and companies use it to distinguish themselves in the marketplace to attract fans, customers, employees and strategic partners. He’s written about the economics of height, gone undercover to gauge the social impact of medical marijuana in California, and explained how traditional fishing rights are used to monopolize a surf wave in Fiji. Other topics include typography, video games, monster mining trucks and the patenting of exotic fruit. Borden has traveled widely through Southeast Asia, lived in Samoa for nearly two years, and currently resides in New York City. He rides goofy, but wishes he could master switc

Patrick McIlvain

 
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Patrick McIlvain
VP of Global Sports Marketing - Oakley

Pat McIlvainPresently serves as Vice President of Global Sports Marketing for Oakley, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of casual and performance eyewear, apparel, shoes and watches. During the course of his 15 year tenure within Oakley Sports Marketing, he has helped guide and grow the brand from a $200 million dollar company to a billion dollar brand annually.

Pat and his Sports Marketing Team continue to drive exposure of the brand with athlete inspired collections and events that show a deeper brand participation to Oakley while integrating with different product categories and segments of the brand. His current responsibilities include overseeing all athlete endorsement, event sponsorships, and brand engagement within all sports globally.

Pat had a short stint as a ski bum and college student in Vail, before joining US Sports Inc. as Director of Operations responsible for promoting ski, snowboard, MTB, triathlon and cycling events. He began racing mountain bikes and turned professional in 1989 as an Oakley-sponsored athlete, and for the next six years Pat traveled and raced the World Cup circuit. He retired from racing and officially joined Oakley in 1994 after a top five national and top 20 world ranking.

Additionally, Pat is President of 1242 Productions, a production company under Oakley Inc, responsible for production and distribution of action sports videos; and serves as board member of TACA, an autism foundation focused on supporting families affected by autism.

Gary Ream

 
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Gary Ream
Owner of Woodward Camp

Gary ReamGary Ream is president and partner in Sports Management Group, Inc., owner of Woodward Camp, Woodward West, and Lake Owen action sports and gymnastics summer camps. Ream has been integral in advancing the popularity of skateboarding, BMX, and inline skating. He played an instrumental role in the formation of USA Skateboarding, the International Skateboard Federation, and the International BMX Freestyle Federation, and currently holds leadership positions in each organization. At the grassroots level, Ream has spearheaded or sponsored initiatives across the U.S. to involve children in action sports.

Camp Woodward began in Pennsylvania in 1970 and eventually expanded to Wisconsin and California. This year, Woodward’s first winter-focused facility opened at Copper Mountain near Denver. Ream has also signed a licensing and consulting agreement with the Chinese government to open Woodward Beijing in 2009. Camp Woodward also plays host to FUEL TV presents Camp Woodward, a reality-based television series entering its third season.

A native of central-Pennsylvania, Ream graduated from The Pennsylvania State University in 1976 in business administration.

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