Are you an action sports star in the making? I know I’m not, but if you’ve got the talent, now you’ve got the chance to compete against the best. The following is a press release from the Free Flow Tour …

Press Release
The AST, the umbrella brand and organization of the world’s most prestigious action sports events, today announced the complete 2008 Free Flow Tour schedule. The Free Flow Tour is the official amateur series of the AST Dew Tour and provides amateur athletes with the opportunity to qualify into the final event of the AST Dew Tour, the PlayStation Pro®, as well as the prospect for professional sponsorship. The Free Flow Tour kicks off May 17 in Rye, N.H.

The Free Flow Tour will include a total of 29 skate competitions (five skate vert and 24 skate park) and 20 BMX competitions (four BMX vert and 16 BMX park) at 28 parks across the U.S. The top skate and BMX finishers at each of the 49 competitions will be flown to the AST Dew Tour’s Toyota Challenge, in Salt Lake City, Utah for the Free Flow Tour Finals, where one champion will be crowned in each discipline. Encompassing the ‘Flow to Pro’ theme, the two overall skate and BMX park champions and the two overall skate and BMX vert champions win a wild card spot to compete against the pros at that final stop of the AST Dew Tour, the PlayStation Pro®, in Orlando, Fla.

“Free Flow Tour gives young amateurs the opportunity to be propelled to the next level of competition,” said Wade Martin, AST president. “The Free Flow Tour will be crisscrossing the country this summer discovering the new pool of talent that is the future of skateboarding and BMX.”

The AST has also teamed with BNQT, a leading digital action sports company, to launch www.FreeFlowTour.com. FreeFlowTour.com will be the exclusive home to all competition video, photos, contest information, on-line registration, as well as host a social community for participants and fans.

The 2008 Free Flow Tour schedule includes the following dates and locations:

August 2 at Kona Park in Jacksonville (Skate Park)
August 30 at Mesh Park in Longwood (Skate Park)
August 31 at Mesh Park in Longwood (BMX Park)

Just as a reminder, the Playstation Pro event in Orlando will take place in October.

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This morning, I was reading through my RSS feeds when I came across an article titled, “Company floats ads in ‘clouds’ shaped like corporate logos.” When I saw that Walt Disney World was involved, I had to read more.

A special-effects entrepreneur from Alabama has come up with a way to fill the sky with foamy clouds as big as 4 feet across and shaped like corporate logos - Flogos, as he calls them.

Francisco Guerra, who’s also a former magician, developed a machine that produces tiny bubbles filled with air and a little helium, forms the foam into shapes and pumps them into the sky.

The Walt Disney Co. will use one of the machines next month to send clouds shaped like Mickey Mouse heads into the air at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., Guerra said.

If you visit the Flogos website, you can watch videos of the machine in action. Here is the one of Mickey Mouse ears flying up into the sky.

On a side note, Dewayne of the Orlando Sentinel’s Theme Park Rangers blog posted a note about how Wheel of Fortune is coming to Sea World. In mid-December, four weeks of shows will be taped and the contestant search will begin soon. I got a head start on that process by filling out the contestant registration form on the Wheel of Fortune website.

Just to see who’s ready to be on the show, here’s a puzzle …

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On Sunday morning, my wife and I competed in our first 15K race as part of Disney’s Minnie Marathon Weekend. Starting in the Animal Kingdom parking lot, our 9.3 mile run featured a trip through Disney’s Hollywood Studios before a finishing mile around Epcot’s World Showcase. Nearly 3000 runners completed the journey. At least two of them were very happy to cross the finish line.

There are a number of running events that take place around Orlando throughout the year. Many of them benefit charities and all of them are an excellent opportunity to get some exercise. People of all ages and body types line up to run distances between 5K and the full marathon. Here are a few races that are open for registration and might inspire you to lace up a pair of running shoes.

3rd Annual Moss Park Forest Run
Heralded as the best off road running venue in Florida, this is a MUST for anyone who considers themselves a runner. Features a 100% shaded course and an awards ceremony on the beach of beautiful Lake Mary Jane. Takes place in early August, with both a 5K and 10K race.

Expedition Everest^TM Challenge
In addition to a 5K through Animal Kingdom, participants will navigate their way through an obstacle course and scavenger hunt during a fun-filled evening. Once the challenge is completed, an exclusive after-hours party that features access to Khali River Rapids, Dinoland U.S.A., and Expedition Everest will thrill everyone until the wee hours of the morning. Takes place in late September.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror^TM 13K
Gear up for Halloween with this 13K night-race through Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. When you’re finished, enjoy exclusive access to The Twilight Zone Tower or Terror and Rock ‘N Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith … assuming that you’re heart and mind are ready for such an adventure. Takes place in late October.

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Disney’s Hollywood Studios hosted a preview of their newest attraction, Toy Story Mania, this weekend. Being lucky enough to know someone with access to such events, I was able to take a couple of rides through Andy’s roomful of toys, games and all-around fun.

The attraction is located on the new Pixar street in the west section of the park just past the Animation tour. Upon entering the queue area, you’re surrounded by oversized board games, toys and a whimsical animatronic version of Mr. Potato Head. It’s a room that kids will love and a place that many people will get to know very well as they spend their time waiting in line.

The attraction itself is a ride that winds its way through a series of virtual, 3-D midway games very similar to the ones you’ve played at parks, fairs and arcades. The technology is so good that you’ll feel like you’re playing the real thing. You’ll want to be ready for the extra effects that have been added in for some of the targets, you only have a limited amount of time to rack up a high score.

I’d give more details, but great attractions should be experienced first-hand. Toy Story Mania will be available to all guests on or about June 17th, and it’s definitely worth a trip out to the park.

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“Remember treasure hunts? Here’s one that’s good for adults, families and people of all ages.”

Those are the words of the Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs office regarding the Public Art Treasure Caches they have hidden near pieces of public art all around Orange County. These Caches have been hidden in an effort to let more citizens experience public art through an exciting and adventurous journey around Orange County.

If you missed out on the Great Public Art Challenge, here’s your chance to search out some of Central Florida’s most interesting artwork.

Here’s how it works:
1. If you’d like, get a small journal to stamp with the stamp found in each Public Art Cache. You can also get a rubber stamp of your own to stamp the journal in the Cache found at each site. While there should be a pen and an inkpad in each Cache along with the journal, you might want to bring your own pen and inkpad as backup.

2. Print out the clues from the OCA&CA website for directions to where the Public Art Caches are hidden.

3. Follow the clues to find a Cache.

4. The stamp in the Cache represents that art piece. Stamp your findings in your personal journal, documenting the date, location and art piece. Using your own stamp (or personal drawing), mark the journal in the Cache and leave your name, date, and any other information you would like.

5. Place the Cache back exactly where you found it and make sure it is well hidden for the next hunter.

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According to the Interpretive Trail Guide I picked up today, …

The Tibet-Butler Preserve was purchased in 1989 by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) through the Save Our Rivers Program, to protect the watershed along Lake Tibet-Butler on the Butler Chain of Lakes. In addition to views of the lake, the Preserve showcases approximately 440 acres of natural Florida, including wetlands, flatwoods, and scrub communities.

At present time, six trails meander through diverse plant communities at the Preserve and total approximately four miles. Learning stations dot these trails and correspond to the text in the brochure. In the future, we will continue to open new trails which will traverse deeper into the Preserve and explore more of Florida’s natural treasures.

It’s the type of place where you can take a quiet walk through the woods and relax on a bench overlooking the edges of one of Central Florida’s great lakes. You’re guaranteed to see a handful of turtles and there’s always the possibility of ospreys, bobcats, turkeys and owls while on the trails. The trails are well-maintained, with portions built as boardwalks that cross the wetland swamp and marsh areas.

The most peaceful place at the Preserve is the “Osprey Outlook”. Set on the edge of Lake Tibet Butler, this covered pavilion is an excellent spot to rest and enjoy the sounds of nature. Bring a pair of binoculars to spy on all of the wildlife in the area.

For hours and more information, visit their page on the Orange County Parks & Recreation site.

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