AST Dew Tour Changes Things Up — A Little

When the 2008 AST Dew Tour kicks off on June 19 in Baltimore with the Panasonic Open, look for two changes in its format. The most significant change gives the top three athletes (as currently ranked) in every discipline a “bye” straight into the finals where they will make be placed as the final competitors of the heat. This will come as welcome news to Ryan Sheckler, Jamie Bestwick, Nate Adams and Daniel Dhers, who should find themselves with one less chance of getting injured as they cruise into the finals each event.

The other change affects only Skateboard Park, where the two-part jam session is being eliminated in favor of one seven-minute Jam with six skateboarders who can utilize the whole course. In theory this could improve competitiveness since some athletes excel in the jam format more than others.