The America’s Cup isn’t the only high-profile sporting event in San Francisco this month. The City will host a four-day action sports event in October, drawing athletes in BMX, FMX, and skateboard categories for a series of competitions and fan events.
The Toyota City Championships, part of the 2012 Dew Tour, will take place Oct. 18–21 at Civic Center Plaza. The Dew Tour has been around for eight years, but this is the first time it will hold a competition in San Francisco. As a result, many of the courses that will be used have been “inspired by San Francisco and the skaters and BMX riders that live there,” according to Dew Tour organizers. This year’s Dew Tour also included the Aug. 16–19 Pantech Beach Championships in Ocean City, Md., and will wrap up with the Dec. 13–16 Mountain Championships in Breckenridge, Colo.
BMX, or bicycle motocross, is a popular sport for racing bicycles on enclosed off-road tracks – dirt or paved. FMX, or freestyle motocross, is a more stunt-heavy version of motocross.
Several of the competition’s biggest names from the 2011 Dew Tour will be in San Francisco for the event. They include BMX champion Jamie Bestwick, holder of multiple titles and considered by some people to be the best BMX vert rider ever; skateboarder Bob Burnquist, who was handed the Laureus World Sports Award for Alternative Sports Person of the Year by none other than NBA legend Michael Jordan; and Canadian Drew Bezanson, who has racked up a number of BMX competitive wins in just a few short years. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet many of their heroes, asking them not only about their achievements on the courses but also about their extracurricular activities, such as Burnquist’s involvement with the Action Sports Environmental Coalition or Bestwik’s charitable activities.
Hitching its name to the popularity of the BMX sports is sponsor Toyota. “The Dew Tour allows some of the most exciting athletes in the world to display their talents to a nationwide audience,” said Jim Baudino, the engagement marketing manager at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., in announcing his company’s pleasure at bringing the tour to the City by the Bay.
On Thursday, Oct. 18, the 2–7 p.m. event kicks off with the Dew Tour Experience (the name of the fan zone that features athletes signing autographs as well as games and prizes and the ability to vote for the Toyota Athlete of the Year), followed by the Free Flow Tour BMX Dirt Final, the Skateboard Street Preliminary, the BMX Street Semi-Final, and the FMX Triple Threat Final.
Friday’s 2–7 p.m. schedule begins with more Dew Tour Experience, the BMX Dirt Semi-Final, the Skateboard Street Semi-Final, and a live concert.
Saturday runs from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and includes the Dew Tour Experience, the Skateboard Street Final, the BMX Street, the BMX Dirt Final, and the Dirt Best Trick.
The noon–5 p.m. schedule for Sunday, the final day of the program, includes the Dew Tour Experience, the Locals Skate Jam, the BMX Streetstyle Final, and the Skateboard Streetstyle Final.
The Toyota City Championships will air on NBC and the NBC Sports Network. General admission is free, or attendees can purchase a $50-per-day premium pass.
