Skateboarding at E3

I'm here in Los Angeles, checking out this year's E3 Video Games Expo. Today I got to drop by the Activision booth, catch a peek of Tony Hawk's new Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam game for the Wii, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance, and then watch Tony Hawk himself, along with Kevin Staab, Jason Ellis, Lincoln Ueda, Dennis McCoy, Jean Prostec, and Jesse Fritch rip up a halfpipe right outside the Activision booth. It was incredible - I'm always amazed at how Tony Hawk still skates so hard - he pulled off McTwists and the like, and then ... of course .. a 720! Unfortunately, the newest Tony Hawk video game, Tony Hawk Project 8, didn't have a running demo. I also tried out QMotion XBoard - a skateboard-like device that you plug into your gaming system that lets you play skating and snowboarding games in a new way. All this, plus the PS3, the Nintendo Wii, loads of beautiful women in weird costumes, loud music and bright lights were everywhere. The show will continue through Friday - stay tuned for a full article about the E3 experience from a skater's perspective!

Tony Hawk Signing Autographs at E3 Photo © Roger Altizer