Guests Bearing Gifts

In selling the benefits of tournaments and other outside events to county and municipal recreation officials, Terry reminds them that making community-based facilities available to outside entities frequently pays handsome dividends.  From rental fees to facility upgrades, hosting activities and events is a smart way to stretch the limited resources local governments and clubs need to maintain their quality of life amenities.

We offer a very good example which presented itself just this week.

Move Over Jersey Shore, Dew Tour Comes to Ocean City

As we previously reported earlier in the week, the Dew Tour confirmed today that it will be making Ocean City the first stop on its 2011 schedule. The event will take place over the course of four days beginning on July 21. Ocean City will be the only East Coast stop on a tour that includes visits to Portland, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. OC is the first beach venue in the Dew Tour’s history.

This unique beach setting led to the creation of some new components. Besides the familiar BMX and skateboard events, a new skateboard bowl contest and a surfing competition have been added to this leg of the tour. The surfing competition is sure to be a highlight for the Ocean City stop. In addition to the featured events, there will be a live concert on the beach and the Dew Tour Festival Village.

This announcement is an important victory for Ocean City and the state. It helps in setting Ocean City apart from similar locales like Wildwood and Virginia Beach and making it a more desirable vacation spot. This is a huge step in bringing in more tourism dollars for the town of Ocean City.

Ocean Bowl Skate Park

The Dew Tour is returning to Maryland after a two year absence. The Camden Yards complex in Baltimore hosted the event in 2007 and 2008. Around 54,000 spectators came out to Camden Yards in 2007 and 52,000 in 2008. The city figured the economic impact to be around $10 million.

To be determined: whether or not the Flying Tomato will be soaring in the skies of Ocean City come July.


Keep it here for more Ocean City Dew Tour updates!

Dew Done Deal !!!

Don't blame us, but the news about the Dew Action Sports Tour kicking off their summer season in Ocean City leaked out today.  Seems Maryland Daily Record got a member of the Ocean City Council to confess that, indeed, they received the eagerly anticipated proposal from Alli Sports on Monday.

A press conference is scheduled for Thursday, and of course Terry will be there.  (Terry was heavily involved in selling Ocean City to the Dew Dudes.  His association with them goes back to when the tour first formed in 2005 and Louisville was one of the sites.)  That's when we'll learn all the particulars about the event.

This we do know, however -- the Dew Tour is a major media event that will be broadcast live on NBC for two hours over the course of the competition.  It will also be carried on USA network and many of the action sports websites.  As an advertising vehicle for the host cities, Dew is priceless in showcasing the attractions and appeal of the destination.

(Much as we love Rodney, not even HE gets that much exposure.  Maybe we can coax him on to a skateboard to open the show.)

Ocean City, which prides itself on being a family vacation spot, is going to love hosting this high energy production this summer.  We understand the dates are July 21-24, with the network coverage on the weekend.

Stay tuned and hang loose.  This is a major coup for Ocean City.

Dew It Again !!!!!

Kudos to the sharp-eyed reporter
who picked up the blind item in our blog and determined the “nationally televised event” possibly coming to Maryland is the Dew Tour -- in Ocean City -- this July.  After a successful pitch to the Ocean City Council this afternoon, it looks like the Dew Crew will be coming back.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Terry confirmed he has been in contact with them on a regular basis since arriving here two years ago. His association actually predates their events at Camden Yards. When the Dew Tour debuted in 2006, their first stop was Louisville, so he worked very closely with them there. (He also worked the task force that designed Louisville Extreme Park next to Slugger Field downtown, an experience that he is sharing with our local skate park community group.)

Ocean City is a fabulous setting for a tournament viewed by millions on a number of media platforms. As we’ve often said, many of Maryland’s finest sporting venues are supported by our natural resources. In this case, the Atlantic Ocean provides a striking setting for the activities taking place where the boardwalk begins. As we learned in Baltimore, the Dew Dudes and Dew-dettes incorporate their host city into every aspect of their presentation, showcasing some gorgeous beauty shots and also providing a stage for local entertainment with a national headliner.

As a multi-season resort, this last factor is particularly appealing to Ocean City. While it may not host the Snooki set, Ocean City is a favorite summer destination for families, many of whom (like ours) have been going there regularly for generations.

This youth-oriented demographic is particularly appealing to Dew (now part of Alli Action Sports,) as it the popularity of action sports throughout the state continues to grow.  There are always dynamic activities for youngsters in the Action Village.

Even when Dew did not have events at Camden Yards, Baltimore continued to be a part of their universe. Charm City Skate Park  hosts the annual amateur component known as the Gatorade Free Flow Tour, which gives aspiring skaters the opportunity to compete with the professionals in the Dew Tour. So Dew has never been very far from our hearts here in Maryland.

We have to give a shoutout to Dundalk native Bucky Lasek, above, seen at his winning performance at Camden Yards three years ago. Bucky is a great booster of action sports in his home state, and has been lobbying the Dew Crew to find a way to bring it back.

While Camden Yards was a great choice because of its central location and easy access, it conflicted with the other uses of the stadium complex. Ocean City has many of the same mid-Atlantic geographic benefits with a lot more flexibility.

So stoke up for surf, sand, and skateboarding this summer in Ocean City. It’s gonna be rad, dude.

The Season for Spinning

Yes, the election is only six weeks away, and spin doctors are pedaling in overdrive about their candidates.  But a different kind of spinning gets our adrendline pumping in Maryland every fall.

I always look forward to this edition of Spokes Magazine because it features so many major cycling competitions, fund-raising rides and fun tours that take place throughout Maryland.  This issue was chock full of news about the first successful Tour de Frederick, certain to be come an annual event in the historic piedmont region.

However, the feature article was about the upcoming Seagull Century which originated 21 years ago as a function of the Salisbury State Bicycle Club.  From the first outing with 68 riders, the Century has grown to the largest bicycle event in the Mid-Atlantic region.  It is on track to exceed the 8,300 registered riders who participated last year.

As a three day event, the Century has significant economic impact in addition to being a rally for cycling enthusiasts.  As a "ride" and not necessarily a race (although there is determined competition among some teams who participate) the Century attracts cyclists of all skill levels to Maryland's Eastern Shore.  It also fills hotel rooms all the way to Ocean City.

Because of the growth of the race, an additional route is being added this year to prevent overcrowding and to give riders another slice of Eastern Shore hospitality.

The St. Mary's Century takes place next weekend, starting and finishing in Leonardstown at the College of Southern Maryland.  Formerly known as the Amish 100, this 21st annual ride sponsored by Patuxent Velo offers the traditional century (100 miles) plus a 62 mile or 35 mile course. 

The routes take riders through the scenic peninsula along the river and bay and farmland of Southern Maryland.

Like the Seagull, the St. Mary's event is considered a tourist boon because of all the overnight visitors it brings to enjoy Maryland hospitality.

Leafing through the pages of Spokes, I was very encouraged to see how many Maryland counties had display ads touting their cycling appeal.  Talbot County, which dedicated six heritage bicycle trails last year, portrayed the beauty of the trails and countryside in a colorful collage.  Dorchester County, the "Heart of the Chesapeake" showed cyclists enjoying a trail ride along a tidal basin.  Caroline County offered their free cycling guide with 11 bike routes through picturesque small towns, while Worcester promoted their View Trail 100, encouraging visitors to explore the beach and countryside.

Fall is definitely the time to pedal around Maryland, whether you enjoy the challenging grades of the mountains, or the gentle roll of the seaside trails.  The competitions are fun and exhilarating, but the everyday outings with family and friends remind you how much our state has to offer in outdoor recreation facilities.

Check out these sites to plan your next adventure, get some exercise, or simply explore Maryland.

AND SPEAKING OF CYCLING,  Terry is still working on that proposed "Tour de Maryland" at a future date.  There should be more to report in a few months.

Team Terry on Tour -- Explore the Shore

Next week tout le Team Terry will be crossing the bridge to check out the natural resources and facilities that comprise the Eastern Shore sports scene.

Our primary destination is Somerset County, home of the Somer's Cove Marina in Crisfield -- largest state-owned marina in Maryland.  It is also a popular venue for public events and maritime activities like fishing tournaments and boat docking competitions.

(Boat docking contests among the watermen is somewhat like rodeos are to cowboys.  It's the opportunity to establish supremacy working the tools of the trade, and it's something to behold.  Virtually all maritime festivals and celebrations feature boat docking contests and they are real crowd pleasers.)

But I digress.  This trip will give Team Terry the opportunity to see some real gems in our state park system, like Janes Island, which has some of the best water trails in Maryland.  Tweety and Blogue are planning a little kayaking adventure there.

Hopefully, we'll have time to follow the Old Indian Trail (one of Maryland's Scenic Byways) to Assateague Island in Worcester, where the flat terrain, beautiful wetlands and ubiquitous wild ponies make it a favorite for recreational cyclists.

We know there's a lot of sports and recreation facilities to see on Maryland's southern Eastern Shore and our itinerary is still up in the air.  But look for it on the blog next week.

Bring It!

The return of Sue Sylvester and the Cheerios (along with the good news about the expansion of the Ocean City Convention Center) coincided with the annual "Reach the Beach" competition presented by American Cheer and Dance Company of Elkridge.

Now in its 13th year, the Ocean City "Reach the Beach" is among the largest cheerleading competitions in the nation.  Hundreds of teams (translating into thousands of participants and family members) descended on OC over the weekend for this Mid-Atlantic regional event.

American Cheer and Dance Company deserves a shoutout for the number of events they stage in their home state over the course of the year.  While they have "Reach the Beach" competitions all over the country, from Long Beach to Daytona, they hold a number of their regional qualifiers in venues throughout Maryland.

So give a cheer for this Maryland based business that keeps the tourists coming, filling our arenas and giving us an energy boost in the process.

Upset in OC -- APV Crocs beach volleyball

Both men and women top seeds were toppled in the first APV Crocs tour on the boardwalk in Ocean City.

Third seeds John Hyden and Sean Scott defeated Olympic gold medalists and defending world champs Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers in the finals, 21-13, 21-18. Sunday’s final marked the second event in a row that Hyden and Scott defeated Dalhausser and Rogers in an AVP Crocs Tour final. The first was two week ago in Atlanta.

In women's play, second seeds Jennifer Kessy and April Ross defeated top seeds Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs, 21-12, 21-15.

BROADCAST: Ocean City Open, Men's and Women's Finals -- Versus TV, Saturday June 27th at 4:00 PM and Friday July 3rd at 4:00 PM

Tankagas State -- where the action is

There’s another reason – a very big one – why Maryland rules for hosting youth or college tournaments.

While an international airport and Amtrak’s Northeast corridor make Maryland venues easily accessible for major events, it is the interstate highway system and central location in the Mid-Atlantic population center that drive (literally) the friends and family network who comprise the fan base for youth and collegiate sports.

Call us Tankagas State. Not a campus, but a geographic reality -- with Maryland as the epicenter.

NCAA Lacrosse provides an excellent example. Baltimore, where both the men’s and women’s championship tournaments will be held next year, is only a tank of gas away from colleges in Long Island to Tobacco Road. Half the schools in the men’s Division I level are located within that radius, as are the families of many athletes. For a weekend event, Maryland is a rollicking road trip for a car and a cooler.

In the case of lacrosse, it goes beyond convenience for those involved in the tournament. Maryland also furnishes the talent for many of the teams, and other homegrown fans involved in many of the rec lacrosse programs, camps, tournaments and media outlets that comprise the outreach network. From a marketing standpoint, Maryland is lacrosse nirvana. The sport is nurtured here, and the locals will come regardless of who is in the tournament.

For tankagas road warriors, Maryland is a destination of choice for other reasons. Lots of lacrosse-centric activities and attractions are here. Ditto accommodations downtown or on light rail/water taxi lines.

We're counting down to NCAA Men's and Women's Lacrosse Championships, to be held in Baltimore Memorial Day Weekend, 2010. But until then, let's look at some of the other lacrosse tournaments that bring youngsters from all over the East Coast to Tankagas State.

Lax Splash, Timonium, June 6-7

Part of the Aloha tournament network, the Lax Splash tourney celebrates its 10th year in 2009. 160 teams participated in 1999. Since then, the tournament has grown steadily, now hosting more than 7,000 participants watched by nearly 20,000 attendees. The event, now considered the largest youth lacrosse tournament in the nation, is divided across 47 fields in 13 different locations, with the major hub of activity at the Timonium Fairgrounds.

Beach Lax Festival, Ocean City, June 6-7, 13-14

More than 200 lacrosse teams participated in the annual Beach Lax Festival over two weekends in and around Ocean City. 2009 is the 11th year for the girls (98 teams, June 6-7) tournament and fourth year for the boys (122 teams, June 13-14)

The purpose of the tournaments recognizes the end of the rec league season, the end of the school year, and the beginning of summer. But ultimately they celebrate family commitment to youth sports and Maryland's love affair with lacrosse.