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Monster Energy’s Mitch Ropelato Takes First Place in Dual Slalom at Inaugural Strait Acres Slalom Invitational in Alpine, CA

Monster Energy

Monster Energy rider Mitch Ropelato t ook the top spot at this weekend’s inaugural Strait Acres Slalom Invitational event in Alpine, California featuring the who’s who of America riders. For the first time, Dual Slalom made its debut at Strait Acres where the top 16 men and top eight women qualified to compete in the finals. Racers faced a short and fast course with tight berms, a rhythm section, a couple of fast left and rights, and finished with classic loose flat dirt turns. The dual slalom track was on the longer side of about 30 seconds long with open turns, a few back-to-back S berms, stall wall and a rhythm lane. Racing was fast and furious with riders blasting through corners faster than they were able to process what was happening in the next lane. As soon as they made it past the last set of berms, it was head to head in a good old-fashioned flat, loose dirt gate bashing session. With the ground hard and dry, it was surprisingly slippery and more than one big name was taken out on the dry decomposed gravel where Ropelato’s rival in the finals and event host, Kyle Straight, slid out in the last corner handing Ropelato an advantage going into the second and final run. Ropelato who had qualified in second place, raced smart all day, pushing where he could and not making any mistakes using his slalom experience cutting through the field to take the win in the end. “Before I arrived, it was my mindset that the event was going to be low key fun little event, but then as the week progressed things got a little serious and while it was still fun, the intensity level went up on every run and I had to keep focus all the way to the end, said Ropelato. This was one of the sickest events I’ve raced in a long time! The course was fun, well organized and racing was awesome- stoked to have picked up the win!” Download High Res Images for Editorial Use. For more on Ropelato and Monster Energy’s Mountain Bike athletes visit www.monsterenergy.com Follow Monster Energy on YouTube , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . ### About Monster Energy Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com . Contact Details Kimberly Paige Dresser +1 949-300-5546 kim.dresser@indiepragency.com Company Website https://www.indiepragency.com

October 06, 2020 05:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

UK SMEs lose £2.2bn as customers fall into administration during lockdown

Stockwood Strategy

SMEs across the UK are counting the cost of the lockdown as they prepare for a testing final quarter of 2020. Risktech business Nimbla , surveyed* 2,000 UK SMEs and found that £2.2bn in revenue (for goods and services provided during lockdown) has been lost because those customers fell into administration. A number that is set to increase dramatically over the course of the next year. More than a third (38%) of SMEs are still waiting to be paid an average of £59,013, for work they completed before the lockdown. Worryingly, a fifth (21%) of these companies believe they will never recover the full amount, losing on average £24,903 because those customers have gone into administration. Looking at the bigger picture, this is worth £2.2bn in revenue across all SMEs (with outstanding payments) that will not be realised. Lost time and revenue Businesses reported, on average, 6 invoices go unpaid every year with half of these worth £41,193 written off due to their customers becoming insolvent. Yet, surprisingly, only 4% of business owners take out trade credit or invoice insurance, which protects the supplier against their customers’ insolvency. Business owners do spend time thinking about a potential insolvency event with their customers. In the event that happened, most of them (83%) would continue trading but the impact on cash flow would lead to changes in asking customers for deposits, requesting shorter payment terms, declining larger projects and fear their credit scores falling. Business owners spend, on average, two weeks chasing an invoice payment which eventually was never paid because the customer became insolvent. Flemming Bengtsen, CEO at Nimbla commented: “The impact the lockdown has had on SMEs, who are the heart and soul of the UK economy, is astonishing. Many have survived several attacks during the pandemic and, now, knowing they won’t get paid for the work they did is another huge body blow. There could be more bad news on the horizon for smaller businesses as high street chains face difficulties and potential insolvencies.” Looking ahead Businesses anticipate making, on average, £263,000 revenue between now and the end of the year. However, as customers seek longer payment terms from 30 to 60 days to settle invoices, three in five (60%) business owners are nervous about not getting paid at all with expectations that one in six customers will become insolvent before the end of the year. This is a major issue as more than a third (36%) of businesses were heavily concentrated, reporting that more than two-thirds of their revenues came from a handful of customers. Overall, business owners reported 61% of their customers said they were doing well in terms of their revenue, going steady with sales and generally content with the business environment. Yet, business owners were sceptical about their buoyant spirit, with only a quarter (26%) believing what they say. Flemming Bengtsen added: “The current uncertain economic environment means doing business isn’t easy, it’s made all the more difficult with SMEs anxious about getting paid. Trading on trust and confidence has deteriorated. It is time, as a collective, to bring this back. Business owners cannot afford to bury their heads in the sand; they should protect themselves and insure against the potential insolvency of their customers.” ENDS Notes to the Editor *Research findings based on a survey of 2,000 UK companies (who are employers with a minimum turnover of £250,000) conducted for Nimbla in September 2020 by LM Research & Marketing Consultancy (Market Research Society approved partner and ESOMAR corporate member). About Nimbla Nimbla makes sure businesses get paid for their hard work, even if a customer becomes insolvent. Founded in 2016, the risktech company is on a mission to give SMEs the confidence to trade with a peace of mind using invoice insurance. Nimbla’s digital insurance platform backed by expert risk analysts, allows businesses to check a buyer’s ability to pay and insure individual invoices against non-payment in a fast and affordable way. This will enable business owners to safeguard against insolvent customers, expand into new and existing markets and secure better borrowing terms. The platform can be accessed directly ( www.nimbla.com ) and through partnerships with Barclays and Starling Bank. Based in London, Nimbla aims to bring the trade credit industry into the 21st century. Challenging traditional insurance models, the cover is flexible and adapts to fit your business — whether it’s a one-off invoice or multiple transactions. Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 bilal.mahmood@nimbla.com Company Website https://www.nimbla.com/

October 06, 2020 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Construction industry rallies in rebuilding Britain, finds Skrap survey

Stockwood Strategy

The construction industry is rallying from the aftermath of the lockdown as builders report steady workflow and recovering revenues, finds a survey* of 2,000 UK construction companies by Skrap , the on-demand construction hire specialist . Almost half of construction businesses (44%) reported that workflow has reached pre-lockdown levels. The bounce is such that almost a quarter (23%) of businesses felt they would hit at least 2019 revenue levels and possibly see a 20% increase. This is despite nearly two-thirds (63%) of businesses still waiting to be paid, on average, £47,784 for work they did pre-lock down. However, this is an improvement from June 2020 when they were waiting for £157,642. Of the work that is being done, building contractors are seeing the greatest demand from residential projects (48%) and public sector work (30%) such as roadworks and in schools. However, of those businesses seeing a partial slowdown in work, they pointed to the uncertain state of the economy which is delaying investment decisions. Construction industry business owner Jamie Herd, MD of Lords builders’ merchants commented: “We’ve seen sales of supplies increase steadily over the past 3 months and orders to the end of 2020 look good especially in London and the home counties. The government’s favourable loan schemes have boosted the cash flow of construction businesses to enable them continue their work and overall, there is a bullish mood that work is returning to normal in the industry”. Hussain Hilli, co-founder at Skrap commented: “Although building activity shrunk during the lockdown, this survey provides a cautious note of optimism for the construction industry. It’s not surprising this wave of optimism comes from residential work as people continue to work from home and consider their new needs. The decision to scrap stamp duty on homes below £500,000 has also got home owners active. Government policies are taking effect and builders are benefiting but a lot will rest on how investors see Brexit playing out on the UK economy”. 2020 expectations Boris Johnson’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ initiative is making a difference. Almost half of builders (46%) said they had benefited from the policy announcement and were expecting more contracts from this in the next few months. However, they do feel that investment in house building developments is being held back. This is chiefly down to investors being vary of valuations given the impact Brexit could have on the economy coupled with the lack of urgency from the government to support this crucial infrastructure need. Looking ahead to the end of the year, builders fear the biggest disruption to business will be a second wave of COVID19 cases leading to another mass lockdown impacting delivery and demand of projects. Brexit The majority of construction businesses are confident that there will be little fallout from a no-deal Brexit. They felt the Government would negotiate a good trade deal in time and it will be business as usual. However, they do feel the greatest concern in the run up to Brexit centres on workforce availability. This is understandable as up to a quarter (25%) of their workforce are non-UK nationals. Ends Notes to the editor * Research findings based on a survey of 2,000 UK construction companies (who are employers with a minimum turnover of £250,000) conducted in September 2020 by LM Research & Marketing Consultancy (Market Research Society approved partner and ESOMAR corporate member). About Skrap Founded in 2017, Skrap offers on-demand services for skip and construction hire resources. Every year almost 100m tonnes of construction waste is collected in the UK and construction businesses spend £5b in collecting this waste, and a further £15b on other hire services. Skrap intends to remove the hassle from ordering a skip and other construction hire needs to make this experience simple and user friendly. Skrap’s strategic ambition is to automate the entire construction hire supply chain across major cities globally over the coming years. Founders Marwan Field, Hussain Hilli and Ahmed Rao came across the problem while running a construction business where logistics were unorganised and fragmented; prices were asymmetric, and the marketplace of suppliers and brokers were doing everything manually. Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 bilal@skrap.xyz Company Website https://www.skrap.xyz

October 06, 2020 03:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Brits spent over £2bn to replicate their coffee experience at home during lockdown

Stockwood Strategy

Keen not to miss out on their regular coffee fix whilst working from home during the lock down, Brits spent a whopping £2.15bn on coffee machines and products to replicate their regular coffee experience. Coffee roastery Volcano Coffee Works surveyed Brits on their coffee habits and sought their expectations of coffee companies for International Coffee Day. The survey* revealed more than four in 10 (42%) admitted to drinking more coffee since lockdown - with almost a quarter (23%) drinking four cups a day - equating to over 112m cups nationally every 24 hours. With these sorts of figures, it should not be a surprise that 82% of coffee drinkers felt that they rely on good coffee to set them up for a productive day of work. Emma Loisel , Co-Founder and Chair at Volcano Coffee Works commented: “We’re more in love with coffee than ever, with consumption up and millions investing in recreating their caffeine fix at home. Coupled with working longer hours from home, it seems we’ve never been more reliant on coffee. And interestingly, it’s great to see the trends for ethically sourced coffee and that companies showing they care about people and the environment are more important than ever when it comes to purchase decisions.” Coffee is big business, the UK’s annual caffeine bill is £14.9bn. However, the study reveals this set to accelerate further - driven by ethical coffee drinkers - with more than three in five (63%) people willing to pay more for coffee if it benefits coffee farmers, up 18% compared to 2019. Emma Loisel continued: “Coffee could be a bell weather of things to come. Consumers are making themselves very clear, they want more from brands than just great products. 85% told us they expect the companies they buy products from to behave sustainably and ethically towards the environment and people.” “Perhaps this is one of the greatest silver linings from the lockdown, consumers have found their voice and if they continue to hold companies to account, they will drive change, faster than any government” added Emma Loisel . ENDS Notes to the Editor * Research based on a survey of 2,000 British people between 25th and 28th September 2020. Survey conducted by consumer research agency YourSay. About Volcano Coffee Works Volcano Coffee Works, founded in 2010, is an ethical and carbon neutral coffee roastery. They bring people great tasting coffees, whilst supporting the livelihoods of small hold farmers who grow their coffees. Their coffee is consumed in hotels, restaurants, cafes, and offices across the UK and Paris. Consumers can also buy coffee direct from their website. A team of 30 passionate people produce over 4,000 kgs of coffee every week, an average of 850,000 cups of Volcano Coffee Works delicious coffee is consumed each month. The business was founded on the belief that coffee can be a force for good. It all started with a coffee cart on the streets of West Norwood, now they have a state-of-the-art roastery in Brixton, where Volcano Coffee Works produces great tasting coffee that has a real and positive impact. Their ethical trading principles ensure that the entire supply chain and beyond benefits. They pay fair prices, committing to buy their farmer’s coffees on long term contracts, giving them security of income so they can invest in their farms and families. They support local community initiatives and are the Crisis Homeless Charity’s coffee partner, enabling consumers everywhere to support Crisis by buying Crisis Coffee here . Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@marketfinance.com Company Website https://volcanocoffeeworks.com/

October 06, 2020 03:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Monster Energy’s Frederico Morais Takes First Place at the Portugal Cup of Surfing

Monster Energy

What a performance! Monster Energy congratulates Frederico Morais on winning the MEO Portugal Cup of Surfing in the coastal town of Ericeira on Friday. In a nail-biting final, the 28-year-old from Cascais, Portugal, rose to the top of an international leaderboard including current World Champion Italo Ferreira in an event organized by the World Surf League (WSL). Contested as an invite-only event, the MEO Portugal Cup of Surfing was part of the two-stop WSL Euro Cup of Surfing 2020. Broadcast live via web stream, the closed-to-the-public competition featured twelve male and twelve female elite surfers on the waves of Ribeira de Ilhas beach in Ericera from September 28 to October 2. Previously, riders had battled for points in the French Rendez-Vous of Surfing 2020 on September 23. The WSL donated prize money from both events to charity. When the competition hit the powerful Atlantic swells in Ericeira, hometown hero Morais left no doubt that this was his local spot. Having honed his skills on the Atlantic coast of Portugal his whole life, Morais worked the right-hand point at Ribeira de Ilhas with power and precision. Morais rode his final wave with four stylish turns, attacking the break with floaters and snaps before hitting a perfect tail slide at the top of the wave. When all was said and done, the judges named Frederico “Kikas” Morais the winner of the event, thereby ending current WSL World Champion Italo Ferreira’s nearly one year-long winning streak. “It’s amazing to win at home, I just feel so special! Mostly winning against the actual World Champ and also really good surfing in the semi-finals against Kanoa Igarashi. It’s been a really fun week, a lot of good waves, a lot of good surfing,” said Morais upon winning the Portugal Cup of Surfing. This weekend’s victory continues a strong season for Morais. In 2019, the Monster Energy team rider qualified for the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) and was selected to represent Portugal in the shortboard surfing event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (now postponed until 2021). In 2017, Morais was named Best European Male Surfer of the Year by surfing association EuroSima and emerged as the best European performer at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games. Definitely keep an eye on what’s next Morais! Download photos for editorial use. For more on Morais and Monster Energy’s surfing athletes visit www.monsterenergy.com . Follow Monster Energy on YouTube , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . ### About Monster Energy Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com . Contact Details Kimberly Paige Dresser +1 949-300-5546 kim.dresser@indiepragency.com Company Website https://www.indiepragency.com

October 05, 2020 07:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Monster Energy’s James Gallagher Scores Round-One Submission Victory Against Cal Ellenor at Bellator Europe 9 in Milan

Monster Energy

The “Strabanimal” strikes again! Monster Energy congratulates James Gallagher on winning the main event fight against Cal Ellenor at Bellator Europe 9 inside Allianz Cloud Arena in Milan, Italy, on Saturday night. In a dominant performance, the 23-year-old from Strabane, Ireland used his Jiu-Jitsu martial arts expertise to end the bantamweight division fight via submission at 4:31 minutes of Round 1. Aired on Channel 5 and streamed live on YouTube, Bellator Europe 9: Gallagher vs. Ellenor was part of a double event package in Milan alongside Bellator 247 on Thursday night. Both fight nights were contested as closed-to-the-public events amid extensive COVID-19 safety protocols for staff, officials and fighters. Saturday night’s showdown between Gallagher and Ellenor had been a long time in the making. The highly anticipated fight was announced and cancelled three times since the original booking more than one year ago due to injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it was finally time to settle the score. Gallagher stepped into the Octagon on a three-fight winning streak after submitting Roman Salazar within a mere 35 seconds at Bellator 227 in 2019. But he was in for a challenge: Gallagher’s opponent in Milan, Ellenor, scored an impressive victory in his Bellator debut in February 2019 and had never been stopped via KO or submission in his entire career. That was about to change on Saturday night. Ellenor started the fight by taunting Gallagher with low kicks to the leg. But the Irishman retaliated with a punishing body kick and took Ellenor down to the mat within 20 seconds of the fight. What happened next was textbook Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu all the way to the last moment: Gallagher established control over his opponent with a body triangle lock from the back, keeping the fight on the ground while wearing down the Englishman with hands and elbows to the head. Ellenor made several attempts at taking the fight back to standing, but Gallagher never ceased control. His opponent fought off a neck crank at two minutes, but Gallagher kept tightening the squeeze while looking to secure a final chokehold. He found it with less than one minute to go in the first round and locked in a rear naked choke, ultimately forcing Ellenor to tap out for the first time in his professional career. Referee Todd Anderson from Canada stopped the fight at 4:31 minutes of Round 1, pronouncing Gallagher the winner by submission. “I came in here the best I’ve ever been. They say it’s all talk but I’ve had me mouth shut for months and I still come out here and do it. Silence to the whole division. Silence!” said James Gallagher upon winning the headline fight at Bellator Europe 9 in Milan on Saturday night. “I’m just extremely proud of myself! I’ve worked hard. I’m 23 years old. Everyone counts me out, but I count myself in every time!” Saturday night’s victory in Milan marks the fourth consecutive win for James Gallagher, who trains out of SBG Ireland. Gallagher (11-1 MMA) now has eight first-round finishes to his name and has earned nine out of his eleven MMA victories via submission. Asked who he will fight next in his ringside interview after the fight, Gallagher insisted: “Give me a big bag of money and I’ll fight any one of them. I’m the toughest in this whole thing, no one can stop me.” Ending his post-fight interview, Gallagher said: “Give me that belt! It’s mine!” Download High Res Photos for Editorial Use. James Gallagher counts amongst Monster Energy’s elite MMA athletes along with Juan “The Spaniard” Archuleta, Phil Davis , Dominick “Dominator” Cruz , Sergio “The Phenom” Pettis, Michael Chandler , Valerie Loureda, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson , A.J. McKee, Aaron Pico, Gaston Bolanos , Rose Namajunas , Jon “Bones” Jones , Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone , Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal , Chris “The All American” Weidman , Daniel Cormier , Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley , Yair Rodriquez, Tony Ferguson, Joanna Jędrzejczyk , and Jessica-Rose Clark . For more on Monster Energy’s MMA athletes visit www.monsterenergy.com . Follow Monster Energy on YouTube , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . ### About Monster Energy Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com . Contact Details Kimberly Paige Dresser +1 949-300-5546 kim.dresser@indiepragency.com Company Website https://www.indiepragency.com

October 05, 2020 05:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Convey Services Launches Virtual Event Platform Exclusively for Sales & Annual Conferences

Convey Services

Convey Services , a SaaS solutions company, today expanded its Cloud Conventions product line by launching Cloud Kickoffs™ , an online portal solution exclusively for sales and annual conference management. Cloud Kickoffs brings elements of a live sales kickoff or conference into a virtual environment to promote engagement, make connections and support team interaction. It’s content-rich experience maximizes the effectiveness of virtual events for yearend or sales kickoff programs. “Canceling live annual meetings or sales kickoffs has become a reality, but it doesn’t mean that those events can’t be effectively executed virtually,” said Carolyn Bradfield, CEO of Convey. “In many ways you can achieve better, more focused results without the time and expense of bringing everyone together physically. Using Cloud Kickoffs, the management team can align the organization around a common strategy, allow remote teams to foster relationships and at the same time deliver and reinforce critical training. Cloud Kickoffs helps you deliver the tools needed to succeed and provides access to training and content long after the live event is over.” Cloud Kickoffs manages live and on-demand education, brings teams together for forum and roundtable discussions, promotes one-on-one connections and offers a platform for networking and social interaction. After a Cloud Kickoffs event is over, the portal can retain its structure, extend the life of content and training and easily be repurposed for virtual sales events throughout the year. A virtual kickoff event can be fully managed by Convey or by your sales or marketing team. “Sales staff or association members look forward to annual conferences because they value the insights, connections and opportunity to walk away energized with a clear focus for the coming year,” added Bradfield. “Cloud Kickoffs provides an efficient solution to bring teams together virtually, saving tens of thousands on logistics planning, travel and entertainment.” Cloud Kickoffs comes complete with templates for branding, delivering email messaging, creating attendee dashboards, setting-up live and virtual sessions and gamification while always tracking attendee engagement. It’s designed for the non-technical user and doesn’t require any coding or development. Participating partners and sponsors can have virtual booths that remain intact or can be refreshed for future events. Each portal has online training and a support database to answer frequently asked questions. Sales and event managers can experience Cloud Kickoffs by visiting https://cloudkickoffs.com or explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com . About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions is a Virtual Trade Show and Conference Platform from Convey Services that brings new capabilities to a marketplace looking for solutions to replace the thousands of live trade shows, annual conferences and association meetings cancelled in the wake of COVID-19. Originally launched as ConveyLive, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, attendee registration, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Cloud Kickoffs™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™, 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

October 01, 2020 11:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Monster Energy’s Nyjah Huston Takes X Games Gold in First-Ever X Games Real Street Best Trick Competition

Monster Energy

Monster Energy congratulates skateboard team rider Nyjah Huston on earning X Games gold in the inaugural X Games Real Street Best Trick contest. In the video contest judged on single tricks from ten of the world’s best street skateboarders, the 25-year-old from Laguna Beach, California, took first place with a Caballerial backside noseblunt to fakie on legendary Clipper ledge in San Francisco, filmed by veteran skateboard filmmaker Ty Evans. Viewers can go online and watch Huston’s never-been-done Caballerial backside noseblunt to fakie down the Clipper ledge on the X Games website . To view Nyjah's gold medal video click here. Originally launched with the X Games Real Street competition in 2010, the main goal of the X Games Real series is to showcase the essence of a rider’s unique talent. Two-person teams of riders and videographers film progressive tricks on authentic terrain, outside of contest arenas. Now in its eleventh year, the 2020 slate of Real Series competitions included Real Ski, Snow, Street, BMX and Moto. Instead of a full 90-second video part, Real Street Best Trick asked ten street skateboarders to capture their single best trick on video for a chance to win X Games gold. “It’s always sick to participate in something new like this and that’s why I was down to do it. This is the first time it’s ever happened – just one banger trick in the streets!” said Huston about the competition. The panel of X Games judges consisted of seasoned skateboard industry insiders: Iconic pro skateboarders Jamie Thomas and Stevie Williams joined filmer/director Chris Ray and Thrasher Magazine Editor-In-Chief Michael Burnett to choose the winners of Real Street Best Trick. On September 27, the winning athlete-and-filmer teams were announced in the special episode “World of X Games: Real Street Best Trick” aired on ESPN2. The one-hour show was hosted by skateboard media personality Gary Rogers and featured behind-the-scenes footage from all video shoots, supplemented by athletes, filmers and judges interviews. When it came to convincing the judges, Monster Energy’s Huston had just the move to shut down the competition. The street skating phenomenon also chose his spot well: “Clipper was definitely the spot for this trick. I used to watch Clipper in all the skate videos I saw growing up,” said Huston. Located on a San Francisco school yard, the Clipper hubba ledge has been a well-known proving ground since the late 1990s and early 2000s, when riders like Heath Kirchart, Frank Gerwer and Darrell Stanton etched their names into the spot’s history with never-been-done (NBD) moves. However, adding another NBD initially proved difficult for Huston. For several years, the iconic spot had been rendered unskateable by defensive architecture. Once Huston learned that a session was possible again, he did not hesitate to enlist legendary skateboard filmer and director Evans to head up to San Francisco. Huston felt confident about his noseblunt variation – it already won him X Games Best Trick in Minneapolis 2019 – and had perfected the move at his private skate facility. But taking the Caballerial backside noseblunt to fakie down the steep Clipper ledge took some persistence. Finally, after more than 15 tries to nail the perfect posture and body position, Huston added the trick to Clipper ledge spot history. Make sure to watch Huston’s gold-winning NBD on the X Games website . “Rolling away from a trick on a legendary spot like that means a lot. That trick has been on my mind for so long, I have to go and get it done. At least I have to battle out and try it,” said Huston about the filming mission to San Francisco. When the judges finalized their scores, Huston received the Real Street Best Trick gold medal, engraved with a ‘hammer’ icon. Speaking on Huston’s skateboarding, X Games judge Jamie Thomas said: “The stuff he continues to do is mind-blowing. There are a lot of things that he does, where he is probably the only human on the planet that can do it.” Winning Real Street Best Trick gold brings Huston’s X Games count to 19 medals in total (13 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze). Known as the most competitive street skateboarder in history, Huston is the current SLS World Champion after claiming his third back-to-back title in 2019. He started his 2020 season with second win at Tampa Pro after bringing home the trophy in 2014. The official U.S. Skateboarding Olympics team member is looking to represent the United States at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and is currently the only athlete ever to win X Games gold medals on five continents. Download high res photos for editorial use. Also making a strong entry into the first-ever Real Street Best Trick contest, 13-year-old Monster Army recruit Filipe Mota flexed his technical street skating skills on a well-known SoCal schoolyard rail. “I never thought I would be in the X Games. It’s a big opportunity to be here with the best skaters. I’m so happy for it,” said Mota, who recently appeared alongside Huston in a Monster video edit , about the competition. For his entry, the upcoming Brazilian rider filmed a highly technical combo rarely seen in real street environments: A big flip frontside boardslide shove-it down a nine-stair. As the spot, Mota chose the well-documented rail at Hubert Howe Bancroft Middle School in Los Angeles. The rail was rendered unskateable by metal knobs from the late 2000s until recently; just in time for Mota to add his NBD trick. Watch Mota’s X Games Real Street Best Trick video here on the X Games website captured by videographer Vitor Borger. Viewers can also watch all X Games Real Street Best Trick ‘behind-the-scenes’ edits, in which the rider/filmer teams detail the making of their videos, online now: Check out Huston’s battle with the Clipper hubba ledge and see young Mota take his tech skills to real street architecture . Congratulations to our winning team riders and filmers. Also thanks to the team at X Games for keeping the stoke alive with this video competition. For more on Huston , Mota and Monster Energy’s skateboarding team visit www.monsterenergy.com . Follow Monster Energy on YouTube , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter . ### About Monster Energy Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com . Contact Details Kimberly Paige Dresser +1 949-300-5546 kim.dresser@indiepragency.com Company Website https://www.indiepragency.com

September 30, 2020 05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Boarding for Breast Cancer Announces 13th Annual [VIRTUAL] Skate the Coast Presented by Suja Organic for Breast Cancer Prevention and Awareness

B4BC

Boarding for Breast Cancer ( B4BC ), a 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation providing breast cancer education, prevention and survivor support programs, announced they will be hosting their 13th Annual Skate the Coast fundraising event presented by Suja Organic in a virtual format on October 25, 2020. B4BC is inviting friends, family and partners to skate-bike-roll their local trail, path, or neighborhood in honor of breast cancer awareness and prevention, while promoting B4BC’s mission of a healthy, active lifestyle. Skate the Coast fundraising goal is set at $50,000 and participants are invited to raise a minimum of $25 to join the virtual event . Every year, Skate the Coast raises awareness for breast cancer with a 19-mile cruise on skateboards from the Santa Monica Pier to Redondo Beach. This year, amid the adversities of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virtual event will significantly expand the scope to a worldwide level. “We are turning a challenge into an advantage by inviting our entire global community to our virtual Skate The Coast event where they can be active in any way that fits their lifestyle and support our event,” said Lisa Hudson, President and Co-founder of Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC), adding: “Be it 19 miles or just a few laps around your block get outside, ‘Be Healthy, Get Active, Ride,’ and help us raise funds for B4BC’s education, prevention and survivorship programs.” Registration comes with a B4BC face covering and a chance to win in the annual raffle. This year’s raffle prizes will include items from Suja, Yeti, Traeger Grills, Blendtec, The North Face, Pura Vida, Vans, GoPro, Smith, Gnu, Nikita, Dakine, Arbor, VonZipper, Globe, Impala Skates, Sector 9, Tahoe Longboards, SunBum, Show me your Mumu, Bravo Skateboards and many more. As B4BC’s biggest fundraising event, Skate the Coast is dedicated to breast cancer awareness and prevention while promoting the nonprofit’s mission of a healthy, active lifestyle. Since its inception, Skate the Coast alongside partner event Skate the Lake has attracted over 1,500 participants, fundraised over $700,000, and gained media coverage from national and local media. Virtual participation will be highlighted through B4BC’s social channels using the hashtag #skatethecoast and tagging @b4bc. Check out the 2018 Skate the Coast video here to see what the magic of this event is all about! Media representatives can find shareable social assets and event photos for download here . For event registration click here and visit B4BC.ORG for more information. Make sure to also follow@b4bc on social media for updates. ### About B4BC: Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that advocates early detection and a healthy, active, and conscious lifestyle as the best means of breast cancer prevention. Founded in 1996, B4BC empowers young people to make positive choices that promote lifelong wellness through grassroots events, educational outreach, sustainability, and survivorship support programs. About Skate the Coast: Skate the Coast is a 19-mile skate-bike-roll that promotes an active lifestyle while raising awareness and funds for Boarding for Breast Cancer’s (B4BC) education, prevention and survivorship programs. This unique event, which runs along a 19-mile coastline route from Santa Monica to Redondo Beach, CA, with the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop, is a part of B4BC’s summer long Skate Series that also includes The Annual Skate the Lake, a 28-mile skate along a portion of beautiful Lake Tahoe. The series attracts skaters young and old and of all abilities to push for the cause! Since their inception, Skate the Coast and Skate the Lake have collectively attracted over 1,500 participants, fundraised over $700,000, and gained media coverage from national and local media. Contact Details Kimberly Paige Dresser +1 949-300-5546 kim.dresser@indiepragency.com Company Website https://www.b4bc.org

September 30, 2020 01:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time

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