BEACH GAMES RETURN TO SURF CITY USA

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.  Surf, sun, boards and bikes all converge at the Beach Games at the famed Huntington Beach Pier. California's quintessential action sport and lifestyle festival showcases professional surfing, skateboarding, BMX, FMX and beach volleyball competitions along with live music amid America's largest ocean-front exposition. 

 We are especially pleased to sponsor the Bank of the West Beach Games for a second year, hosting 500,000 Southern Californians or more for a week of excitement,' said Steve Glenn, Bank of the West Vice Chairman. With a colorful history dating back to 1959, the featured Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O'Neill boasts North America's only six-star World Qualifying Series-rated men's and women's events. The addition of an all-new women's junior pro (ages 19 and under) compliments the existing men's junior pro and longboarding divisions, and star-studded expression session. Cash prizes totaling $185,000 are on the line for what has been described as the 'world's largest professional surfing competition.'

Prior event champions include Andy Irons, Kelly Slater, Cory Lopez, Sunny Garcia and Rob Machado. Against the backdrop of 12 acres of action-packed activities for all ages, Freestyle Moto-Cross (FMX) fuels the Bank of the West Beach Games for the second consecutive year, electrifying crowds with daredevil double-seat grabs, cliffhangers and gravity-defying backflips. A custom-built course, within a stones throw of the Pacific Ocean, allows spectators to be within a few feet of top FMX stars, which included Brian Deegan and Tommy Clowers in '04. A slew of BMX superheroes and skateboard stars battle in The Bank of the West Soul Bowl, a unique action sports competition apparatus that combines the core or 'soulful' elements and history of pool riding with the freestyle and modern attributes of half-pipe competition.

Skaters and bikers drop into the 13 foot deep kidney-shaped 'pool' and vie for $50,000 in prize money. Prior competitors include Brian Patch, Tony Magnusson, Cara-Beth Burnside, Mat 'Condor' Hoffman and Kevin Robinson. The Bank of the West Beach Games also hosts the Karch Kiraly Invitational, a six-team, four-person beach volleyball competition, July 30-31. Top male and female beach volleyball players from throughout California will be representing a designated city beach location along the California coastline to benefit the Keep California Beautiful organization.

Thousands of spectators will also enjoy the Bank of the West Beach Games' interactive festival featuring the TransWorld Surf Village and Stage and Teen Vogue Fashion Live! More than 80 exhibits, athlete autograph signings, dance contests, DJs, guest emcees and prize giveaways are among the myriad activities. Just north of the pier, the Bank of the West Concert Stage creates a soundtrack for today's lifestyle sports, with national and regional acts performing live during the final weekend.

Past bands include Hoobastank, Lit and Ozomatli. 'IMG is proud to welcome back Bank of the West as the title sponsor of this year's Beach Games,' said James Leitz, vice president for IMG Action Sports. "Their ongoing support of and commitment to the Southern California market underscores the heritage and tradition of this great Surf City USA event.'

The Bank of the West Beach Games will be broadcast to 62 million households on Fusion TV, airing on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. PST (Dates TBD). The shows will re-air on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. EST/2:00 p.m. PST (Dates TBD). Fusion TV is syndicated to over 100 countries around the globe. All events during the 2005 Bank of the West Beach Games are open to the public, free of charge.