The Retaks Expressions Tour kicks off at Extreme Thing 2010 on March 27 at the Desert Breeze Skate Park near Durango Drive and Spring Mountain Road. The event will include the third annual Retaks Local Ripper Mini Ramp Skateboard Competition, and the Retaks Battle of the Shops. Retaks will sponsor a fourth stage at Extreme Thing, a record for the event. The specially constructed stage physically connects the concert space with the ramp and will feature live music from Guilty By Association, Ministry of Love and Battle Born all from Las Vegas; Avery Watts from Los Angeles and Parker Theory from San Diego.
Three local skateboard shops will compile approximately the top 30 qualifiers of all ages in the region who will pay $20 to enter the open competition – there are no age group requirements in this competition. Registration includes one general admission ticket to the event plus competitor wristbands and Retaks Competitor gift bag. Skaters younger than 18 years old will receive one pass for their parent/guardian who will be required to sign a liability waiver on site. Competition is open to all amateur skateboarders. Those who’d like to participate can contact Pharmacy Board Shop, 4845 S. Fort Apache Road in Summerlin (228-4755); Industrial Ride Shop inside the Galleria at Sunset mall in Henderson (435-0600) or the Area 702 Skatepark, 3040 Simmons St., suite #104, in North Las Vegas (870-7588). Spaces are limited.
After initial competition, five individual sessions will determine the top five competitors, who will be judged solely on their at least 4-minute individual run. Open jam practice will take place in the morning until the first Retaks Concert Band takes the stage. Then, each of the five competitors will have approximately 20 minutes to practice their individual runs before final competition begins. The contest will be judged by three independent or professional skaters to be announced at a later time.
Local lifestyle backpack company Retaks – the word “skater” inscribed backwards – created the Expressions Tour three years ago and kicks off the 2010 event at Extreme Thing. Retaks started in 2005 when a father and his two sons scribbled an idea on the back of an airline flight barf bag and has since designed backpacks to suit the lifestyle of the extreme sports enthusiast. The tour presents the best of local skate and BMX riders in amateur competitions. This year the company added a music component to the tour with a five-band concert stage next to the mini ramp.
Extreme Thing Sports and Music Festival, now in its 15th year, welcomes The Used, Five Finger Death Punch, Escape the Fate, Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, Story of the Year and The Bled on the Verizon Wireless main stage with Never Shout Never, The Cab, Hey Monday, Every Avenue, The Summer Set, Call The Cops and The Ready Set taking the newly formed AP (Alternative Press) Stage. This will be the first year Extreme Thing will feature four stages, with the third being the XPOZ Local Band Stage. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 day of the show. A combo package also is available for $35 and includes a ticket, commemorative event T-shirt and artist-signed event poster.
Only a personal “unopened” bottle of water can be brought into the festival along with still cameras and sunscreen. There will be plenty of ATMs on site this year with an array of food vendors available, from barbecue to Thai, along with beverages. No alcohol will be sold. No animals, coolers, weapons or chairs are permitted. No re-entry will be permitted.
Sponsors include X107.5 FM, Las Vegas CityLife, My LV TV, CW Las Vegas, Red Bull, Verizon Wireless, Wasted Space and The XPOZ Coalition.
Those interested can visit the Web site at www.extremething.com