TTHHEE TTAATTTTOOOO BRISTOL PRESS MAKING A PERMANENT IMPRESSION SINCE 1994 VOLUME 7 No. 6 The buzz ESPN comes home for the X Trials on the By MIKE NGUYEN ESPN, Bristol’s shining sports tors of all ages can ‘do what they The Tattoo network. The tapes will be view’,” according to the X Trials shown over the summer a num- flyer. X Trials Sun, skates, and a whole lot ber of times on the network. What exactly are these spec- of teenagers are expected to It’s about time ESPN held an tators going to view? Sport- attend the exciting and gravity- “It’s all so cool. I event in its hometown, don’t climbing, skateboarding, and can’t wait to go espe- defying X Trials this summer, you think? bungee jumping. cially because it’s coming this month to Grand And since ESPN’s hosting Again, not for the faint-heart- free.” Prairie, Texas and next month this shindig, expect some just as ed to watch. — Matt Herens to ESPN’s home sweet home: big names in the extreme sports Hey, things like this don’t Bristol, Conn. league. come every day in Connecticut. And what better place to Although not confirmed, The event is expected to bring “I’ve seen things throw a Generation X event skater star Colin McKay and tens of thousands of people into like that on TV than Lake Compounce, the old- BMX bike gods Dave Mirra and Bristol from around the region est running theme park in the Ryan Nyquist are just some of and extreme sports world, not and can’t wait to nation? the names expected to travel to counting the millions of TV view- see it for real.” This weekend extravaganza Bristol for the Trials. ers who will watch. ---- Andrea Albert will take place June 15-17, just in And yes, even Tony Hawk, So if you can, grab your time for Father’s Day and will the skateboard legend himself, is board, your bike, or your blades, “Girl, I don’t know feature a variety of sports, slated to grace Lake Compounce and slide on down to Lake nothing about the X including “men’s and women’s with his presence. Yes, he’s the Compounce for an exciting Games. I’m not really park and vert aggressive in-line one that made the top-selling weekend of wheels and gravity. into that kind of skating; flatland, park and vert video game, Tony Hawk Pro Can’t make it personally? No stuff.” bicycle stunt and park and vert Skater. problem. – Lauren Barnard skateboarding,” according to Photo courtesy of ESPN Oh yeah, did we mention it’s The Tattoo, your favorite information released by ESPN. An in-line skater shows his best moves at an ESPN extreme free? That’s right, you won’t teen-filled newspaper, will be “I like the Disney movie If you have no clue what any event in Japan this year. need to spend a dime on admis- recapping the days’ events and Brink. I think it’s really cool of that means, it’s not for the sion into Lake Compounce to getting you behind-the-scenes at even though I could never do faint-hearted. Fla. rounds for the X Games — the see the event, but it wouldn’t the Trials with your favorite and it.” Just think lots people in the This year’s seventh annual first will be held in Texas in a hurt spending a few extra bucks not-so-favorite stars on the spot. — Hannah Clifton air with bikes, Rollerblades, and summer games will be held in couple of weeks -— and then the to try the new Boulder Dash All of this will be available skateboards. Philadelphia starting August 17. final Trials in Bristol. roller coaster while you’re there. through our website at “THe X Games Are cool” The X Trials started in 1997 Just hope no one tries to ollie- The Trials will be taped (yes, But, anyone can release his www.ReadTheTattoo.com, so as an afterthought following the over that Liberty Bell. that means anyone who is there or her extremeness at the check us out on the Internet if — Kurt Galvan successful debut of the X Games But back to this year’s X might be on international televi- Xperience, “a free of charge you can’t make it to the real in Providence, R.I. and Orlando, Trials. There are two qualifying sion) and covered extensively by interactive zone where specta- event. “I was never interested in skateboarding and Rollerblading.” — Emily Mensel Gotta love those blades, bikes, boards “The X Games are cool. I own a By SARA GREENE sports that will be showcased at the X ble spin and rup- skateboard and The Tattoo Trials: inline skating, skateboarding, and tured his spleen. they are my freestyle BMX. Landyr said the heroes.” With the X Trials competition at Lake ESPN and Lake Compounce are accident only made — Tomek Furtak Compounce zooming up faster than a expecting fans from all over to make the him better at his skater on wheels, the excitement in the trip to Bristol next month to watch the X sport. “A waste of time. I don’t area is growing. Trials. For 14-year-old like seeing people being Like teens throughout the country, “The X Games are cool,” said Tomek Sam Guenther of thrown up in the air.” local youths are really into the three Furtak, a student at Chippens Hill Middle Bristol, inline skat- — Hanna Furey School. “I own a skateboard and they are ing is the best. my heroes.” Since her aunt Beyond the many Connecticut taught her how to “I think it’s an honor to teenagers who head to Lake Compounce in-line skate five have such a big sports tourna- to check out the X Trials will be those years ago, it’s ment come to our city.” who dare to compete. become Guenther’s — Lindsey McDowell Steve Landyr, a 17-year-old junior at favorite sport. Watertown High School, said he’ll com- But for “It’s good and has pete in freestyle BMX if there is an ama- Guenther, it’s more teur class. than just a hobby — good sports.” Landyr, who learned freestyle BMX it’s life. — Lisa Albert from a couple friends seven years ago, is “It’s fun and serious about his sport. He said being a gives you a rush of Mike Nguyen / The Tattoo “I don’t even know what the good athlete not only takes talent but energy,” said James Gilbert, a student at Bristol Eastern High School, X Games are.” practice. Guenther. rides a bike at CT Bike. – Patrick Mellon Three to four nights a week, Landyr Guenther said practices at the CT Bike on South Street she’ll probably go Skateboarding, Aliff said, is “fun and “I think it would be a good in Bristol. He also practices at the to the X Trials at Lake Compounce. the ultimate high.” idea because ESPN is near Woodbury Skate Park and the Woodbury She wants to see all the cool, new Aliff is certain to be at the X Trials Lake Compounce. It’s fun and Trails. Rollerblading moves, Guenther said, and watching, but he said he’s not good Landyr said he does freestyle BMX, has even thought of competing in the people should go watch it to enough to compete yet “for the fun and challenge.” Trials. For plenty of local teens and others do something different.” Since he began BMX riding, Landyr Whether you’re a spectator or a player, — Rebecca Wilk who turn out to watch — or compete in — said, he’s suffered one major accident. A X Trial fever is sweeping Bristol the X Trials, Father’s Day weekend at year ago, he fell off his bike doing a dou- Don Aliff, an eighth grade student at Lake Compounce will be a once-in-a-life- “It’s OK. Yes, I would go see it. Northeast Middle School, thinks of skate- time event. It sounds like fun.” Sarah Jordan / The Tattoo boarding as a real adrenaline pumper. — Mary Pelletier “I think it’s an honor to have such a Andrew Cyr skateboards in the park- Aliff taught himself to skateboard two big sports tournament come to our city,” ing lot of Bristol Commons on a recent years ago after watching people do it on said Lindsey McDowell, a Chippens Hill “I love the X television and around his neighborhood. Games! I think afternoon. student. it’s a great idea to have it at Lake Compounce so I can go and see it. I love to Teens need nurturing, guidance, not guns Rollerblade.” — Sam Guenther By KAISHI LEE severely for killing. They should ers. All schools have cliques. Teenagers are going through The Tattoo Opinion know that carrying a gun and Students not in cliques are the puberty. They are changing. “It’s all right. It’s another shooting people is wrong. “outcasts.” They desire true They need to know what is right America should ban guns in One major problem is that acceptance and join the and wrong. If they are more thing for kids to do.” was shot by her kindergarten — Chantal Gauvin all 50 states. parents are so busy with work “Outsiders” group. They thirst aware, they will get on the right Its Constitution allows citi- schoolmate. Think about the and their careers that they for- for revenge and popularity. track. Colombine High School incident “Just great that ESPN is in zens to bear arms so they can get their children need family Remember Dylan and Eric...