Partnership provides up and coming action sports athletes opportunities for huge exposure while delivering new premium content to Hookit.com

FUEL TV, a leading provider of action sports media coverage, and Hookit.com, the largest social network for lifestyle sports, today announce a unique promotion and content partnership. The highlight of the agreement is the launch of a new online community for FUEL TV’s ‘Unsponsored’ segment. This community provides aspiring amateur athletes in skate, surf, snow, motocross, BMX and wake their potential two minutes of fame – and some serious exposure – on FUEL TV, which is now broadcast in more than 30-million homes nationwide.

In order to be eligible, any ‘Unsponsored’ athlete must submit their video online athttp://unsponsored.hookit.com. Once a month, a panel of judges from FUEL TV and Hookit.com will review the submissions and select unsponsored athletes for a chance to be featured on FUEL TV, as well as receive introductions to top industry brands. For the athletes, this also means no more cumbersome mailing of DVDs or emailing clips in hopes they will get viewed. Athletes who don’t get selected to be on FUEL TV can still get exposure, promote themselves and connect with brands for deals on products through the Unsponsored community and their profile on Hookit.com.

“Our roots started in sponsorship and helping open doors for young up-and-coming athletes. There are so many athletes who have the skills, but need that one big break to help them get to the next level,” said Scott Tilton, CEO of Hookit.com. “This partnership with FUEL TV provides our ‘Unsponsored’ members with an exceptional opportunity for amazing exposure while adding great content for all of our members to browse and share.”

As part of the partnership, Hookit.com is also hosting premium online video content from FUEL TV. The content will be featured across various sport hubs on Hookit.com helping create new advertising revenue opportunities for both properties and highlighting popular shows like “Bubba’s World,” “The Daily Habit,” “Firsthand” and others.

“Hookit.com has an incredibly targeted and passionate community of action sports athletes who need exposure and want great content,” said Gene Pao, FUEL TV’s VP of New Media and International Development. “Their history in sponsorship made this partnership a perfect fit for Unsponsored as well as a great avenue for us to promote and distribute FUEL TV content.”

For more information and specifics, check out www.fuel.tv/unsponsored orhttp://unsponsored.hookit.com.

original story via fueltv

Nine time world champion, four time Rip Curl Pro champion and right now world number one surfer on the ASP 2010 season ratings,  Kelly Slater showed his immense appreciation for Australian Indigenous Culture by gifting his winning 2010 Rip Curl Pro ‘BELL’ trophy to the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.

Slater who has twice before been the recipient of a traditional aboriginal welcome to the winner’s podium by the Je-Be-Weng Aboriginal Dancers when receiving his trophy explained that when he arrived at Bells this year he had decided that if he won he would give his trophy to the Wathaurong community in recognition of their previous support of him and as an acknowledgement of the traditional owners of the land.

He went on to say half way through the final and well behind in scores he suddenly remembered his personal pledge and  he thought he may not get the opportunity, one he really wanted and that just after this thought the wave that ultimately won him the event came his way!

“I’m really excited because I remembered that before this contest I promised myself that if I won, I would give to trophy to the Wathaurong (local aboriginal tribe) people,” Slater said. “I didn’t remember that until I was out in the water and right when I did, those waves came. So before I give it to them, I want to pass the trophy around for everyone to give a ring because that’s never been done before.”

Slater spent quite some time with his Aboriginal friends in the Johanna car park ringing the Bell in his own hand over celebration. The place that WATHAURONG ABORIGINAL CO-OPERATIVE plays in the Rip Curl Pro is now significant and is specifically aimed at exposing the world to Australian Aboriginal Culture.

The indigenous element of Rip Curl Pro is a key component of the 12 month a year statewide indigenous surfing program co ordinated by Surfing Victoria in partnership with the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative and supported by the Victorian Government water safety initiative Play it Safe by the Water, the Department of Justice, VicHealth, many community groups and the surfing industry.

Elements of the program include statewide indigenous community learn to surf and water safety programs, work placement opportunities, a statewide surfing carnival attracting community members from not just the Victorian coastline but many inland communities as well, wild card opportunities into the Rip Curl Pro and coaching and mentoring courses.

Now number one on the ASP World Ratings following his second placing in Brazil, you can be certain the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative will be cheering Slater  on through every event this season!

story via surfingaustralia.com

Finisterre’s first ambassador, Carlos Burle, was crowned the first Big Wave World Tour Champion this weekend after a non-stop year of tackling the world biggest waves. The overall tour win marks the culmination of an outstanding season in the big wave world that was marked by quality swell that delivered across the big wave locales.

Tom Kay, Finisterre founder remarked, “We have seen Carlos at his best throughout the season. Every week it seems we receive a little message from far away shores of the latest session, consistently pushing the limits of what is imaginable, before jetting off on the promise of a fresh chart and a new swell.”

read the rest of the story at transworld.