SHAKOPEE, Minn. -- Six of the world’s top professional skateboarders, BMX bikers and inline skaters performed tricks and aerial acrobatics for hundreds of students Sept. 28 during the 2011 ASA Fall High School Tour.
The Marine Corps sponsored tour is an interactive sports show that visits dozens of schools across the country, delivering an anti-tobacco message.
"It was nice to see everyone participate," said Jenny Sevilla, a 17-year-old senior from Shakopee, Minn., currently in the Marine Corps Delayed Entry Program. "When you're in a classroom environment you can easily lose interest, but this was very interactive and grabbed everybody's attention."
Action Sports Athletes will stop at five Minnesota schools Sept. 26-30 before departing for their next show near Chicago.
"I love being part of this program," said Sara Kindig, ASA tour manager. "It's fun stopping at different cities each week to promote a good message."
Kindig also said dozens of Shakopee students took the X-Games Pledge, an oath to try and stop smoking or help someone quit for at least one week.
According to event coordinators, host sites pay up to $20,000 a day to bring in the ASA High School Tour; however, due to the generosity of the Marine Corps and friends of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the performance didn't cost Shakopee educators one cent.
"This is a great opportunity for us to promote a healthy lifestyle," said Sgt. Dustin Ardolf, a recruiter from the Burnsville, Minn., office. "Multiple students came up to our booth and asked when we were coming back."
Ardolf, a 25-year-old Chisago City, Minn., native, also said more than 100 students took the pull-up or flexed-arm hang challenge during the hour-long show.
"It was a successful event and a great day for Shakopee High School, ASA and the United States Marine Corps," he said.
For additional imagery from the tour, visit
www.facebook.com/rstwincities.