Tony Hawk Joins ESPN’s X Games 15

Skateboard Legend and Icon to Team With Masekela as Skateboard Analyst

Former X Games champion and legendary skateboarder, Tony Hawk, is returning to the X Games to join the telecast team as the skateboard analyst for all five skateboard events: Big Air, Vert, Park, Street and the first ever Big Air Rail Jam. Alongside X Games host and longtime friend, Sal Masekela, Hawk will kick off the 15th anniversary coverage on Thursday, July 30, with Skateboard Big Air at 8:45 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Hawk has been part of the X Games family since winning the first X Games Skateboard Vert gold in 1995. Fast forward four years, and Hawk became the first skateboarder to land a 900 (2 ½ rotations).

“I'm excited to take part of this year's X Games,” said Hawk. “The level of riding improves each year, so I can't wait to see what the new events bring in terms of innovation. It will be a blast to join Sal in commentating all of the skate competitions as well.”

A native of San Diego, Calif., Hawk retired from competitive skateboarding at the age of thirty-one. He still skates almost every day, still learns new tricks, and still does several public demos a year. One of the reasons Tony decided to stop competing at the end of 1999 was because he landed the first-ever 900 at the X Games in San Francisco – a trick he had on his wish list ten years earlier.

The 15th annual action sports competition will feature more than 250 of the world’s best athletes who will compete in BMX Freestyle, Moto X, Skateboard and Rally Car Racing. Tickets for X Games 15 are available for purchase at STAPLES Center and The Home Depot Center box offices or online through www.Ticketmaster.com. ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will air 20 hours of live coverage of the X Games July 30

August 2 – all available in high definition. Additional coverage will be provided via ESPN360.com, Xgames.com,

ESPN Classic, ESPN International, SportsCenter and ESPN2’s X Center.