The Velocity Games, the city's kiteboarding, skateboarding and windsurfing competition, is changing its name just two months after a new sports marketing firm acquired rights to the event.

Jessica Davila-Burnett, president of Epic Sports and Entertainment LP, announced the event will be renamed the U.S. Wind & Water Open beginning with the 2007 competition on May 11-13.

The name change is a further evolution of an event that started in 1987 as a windsurfing competition. It has been known as the Velocity Games since 2003, reflecting the additional sports events and providing an umbrella name for the U.S. Wind and Water Open, the 20th annual Cheniere Energy U.S. Windsurfing Regatta, the AT&T Kiteboarding Open, The Port of Corpus Christi & F-2 Speed Challenge, and the Texas Skate Jam.

Davila-Burnett said the new name reflects Epic Sports and Entertainment's goal of placing emphasis on the sports and national title championships at stake.

"The new name represents a change in leadership, and also a change in direction for the national competitions," Davila-Burnett said. "The new name elevates the competition to be recognizable around the world as the premiere windsurfing, kiteboarding, and extreme water sports competition held on U.S. shores. It depicts Corpus Christi as the wind and water capital of the nation."

In March, Davila-Burnett teamed with Corpus Christi Hooks baseball team president J.J. Gottsch and his wife Evonne, to create Epic Sports and Entertainment LP. The company will function as a 501 c3 non-profit organization this year, but in 2008 will become a for-profit marketing and promotions firm, earning revenues from clients looking for branding opportunities during the events the company hopes to bring.

Davila-Burnett said the company hopes to add three more events to the U.S. Wind & Water Open.
"We want to incorporate two additional water competitions and one land competition in 2008," she said.

She did not say what those additional events would be. Davila-Burnett expects more than 1,500 people to participate in the event this year. The competitions will be at newly renovated McGee Beach and the new Cole Park skate park. Competitors come from as far as Brazil, Hawaii, the Dominican Republic, Germany and France, as well as from the local area. Among these are World Champion kite surfer Kristin Boese of Germany and local kiteboarder Rocky Chatwell of Portland.

Chatwell placed first in the freestyle event of the Canadian Kitesurf Challenge in 2006. About $40,000 in prize money will be available at the competition this year.

Where to get passes
Free passes available at the events the day of or in advance at : Tire Depot, 3926 Acushnet Drive House of Rock, 511 Starr St. Pinnacle Tattoo, 1041 Airline Road Omni Bayfront Hotel, 900 N. Shoreline Blvd. Clear Channel Radio, 501 Tupper Lane