LOS ANGELES, CA – FUEL TV, the only network dedicated to the lifestyle of action sports, launches the eighth season of “Drive Thru New Zealand” on Sunday, May 18, beginning at 8:30pm ET/PT. “Drive Thru New Zealand” takes a wild ride through the lives of some of the world’s best surfers, as they spend a not-so-typical two weeks traveling up and down the world’s most pristine coastlines.
 
SPRING season Launches
Sunday 5/18/2008
Drive Thru New Zealand – 8:30pm ET/PT
Follow tour veterans Donavon Frankenreiter, Benji Weatherley and Pat O’ Connell, along with Aussie legend Mark “Occy” Occhilupo, aerial wizard Oscar “Ozzie” Wright, and one of Southern California’s hottest up-and-comers, Alex Gray, in the funniest and most amazing Drive Thru series yet.  Kiwi locals Cory Scott and Maz Quinn guide the crew to the best locations across the country, both for surfing and for incredible extracurricular activities like zorbing. Creator Greg Browning and Executive Producer Taylor Steele capture the true spirit of the surfing lifestyle Down Under.
 
MAY HIGHLIGHTS
Thursday 5/1/2008
Check 1,2 – Cool Kids – at 2:00am ET/11:00pm PT in Unprotected Sets
Chicago hip hop heroes the Cool Kids work the crowd at a spirited show in Los Angeles and hit the streets to ride with BMX pros.
 
Monday 5/5/2008
2007 Vans Triple Crown Of Surfing: Recap – 8:00pm ET/PT
We take a look back at the 2007 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and the two months that it spanned, including plenty of great free surfing and hanging out with all of the top pros.
 
Wednesday 5/7/2008
Red Bull X-Fighters 2007 – Slane Castle, Ireland – 8:00pm ET/PT in MotoMix
Rock ‘n’ roll meets freestyle motocross at the famous location of Slane Castle in Ireland. The crème de la crème of international FMX superstars indulge in a massive fight to become the "High King" on two wheels.
 
Thursday 5/8/2008
ASP Women’s World Tour 2008 – Rip Curl Pro, Bell’s Beach, Australia – 8:00pm ET/PT
The world’s best female surfers compete at the Rip Curl Pro in Bells Beach, Australia. The second stop of the World Tour offers clean conditions for current World Champ Stephanie Gilmore and pros Amee Donohoe, Layne Beachley and Jesse Miley-Dyer.
 
Tuesday 5/13/2008
2008 Roxy Chicken Jam – 8:00pm ET/PT in Snow Pack
The Roxy Chicken Jam, a women's only snowboard contest, takes place at Mammoth Mtn., CA, and gathers the world's best riders competing in both a slopestyle and superpipe competition.
 
Tuesday 5/13/2008
Opens Freeski: Mount Snow Open – 8:30pm ET/PT in Snow Pack
Top freeskiers including Simon Dumont and Jon Olsson compete in halfpipe and slopestyle events at Mount Snow Resort in Vermont.
 
Thursday 5/15/2008
Chasing Dora – 3:30am ET/12:30am PT in Unprotected Sets
Based on The Surfer’s Journal article “The Aquatic Ape,” by Miki Dora, the filmmakers create the contest borne in Dora’s mind, while also incorporating a retrospective on “Da Cat.”  Shot in Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa, “Endless Summer II” star Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, Mickey Munoz and Marc Andreini are among the surfers participating. A film by Wes Brown and T.J. Barrack.
 
Sunday 5/18/2008
Pull-Ronix – 1:30pm ET/10:30am PT
Watch the first-ever team trip with Ronix Wakeboards. Spend three days riding Tampa Bay with Parks Bonifay, Danny Harf, Adam Errington, and Emily Copeland. Then travel to Guatemala with Reed and Trevor Hansen and explore the culture and scenery.
 
Monday 5/19/2008
2008 Vans Cup at Tahoe: Show 1 – 8:00pm ET/PT
Featuring a Rail Jam and Slopestyle, The Vans Cup At Tahoe has the most high-profile rail shralpers at one event, under the lights. Scotty Arnold, Lucas Magoon, Chas Guldemond and dozens more all hit the rails for the money. The large slopestyle course gets murdered by the usual suspects: Heikki Sorsa, Andreas Wiig, Mason Aguirre, and Cheryl Maas.
 
Friday 5/23/2008
Tampa Pro 2008 – 8:00pm ET/PT in Skate @ 8
This street and vert competition features some of the best in skateboarding—Ryan Sheckler, Greg Lutzka, and Eric Koston—and is one of the most coveted skateboard contests in the world.
 
Friday 5/23/2008
Switchstance – 1:00am ET/10:00pm PT in Unprotected Sets
, this comedy is about a 35-year-old cop going undercover in the world of skateboarding. He poses as a teenage skater who begins to understand what it’s like to be in a skilled sport that is considered a criminal act. A film by Adam Brodie and Dave Derewlany.  Lose “Toronto” and add that this is a spoof comedy based on the classic cheeseball skateboard films of the 80’s.  
 
Monday 5/26/2008
Blue Carpet Special – Bustin’ Down the Door – 8:00pm ET/PT
FUEL TV takes you to the premiere of “Bustin’ Down the Door.” Get an exclusive look at the film documenting how in the winter of 1975, a group of young Australian and South African surfers, including Peter “PT” Townend, Mark Richards, Shaun Tomson, and Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, rocked the surfing world and sparked what would become a multi-billion-dollar industry.
 
Monday 5/26/2008
Surfing for Peace – 8:30pm ET/PT
The Paskowitz family, the Rothman’s, and eight-time world champion Kelly Slater travel to Israel for a surf trip and concert in an attempt to bring peace and unity to conflicting cultures.
 
Tuesday 5/27/2008
Opens Freeski: Season Highlights – 8:00pm ET/PT in Snow Pack
Simon Dumont and Jon Olsson head an elite field of freeskiers in slopestyle and halfpipe events from Breckenridge, Colorado, Bear Mountain, California and Mount Snow, Vermont.
 
Thursday 5/29/2008
Check 1,2- Valient Thor – 2:00am ET/11:00pm PT in Unprotected Sets
Intergalactic rock warriors Valient Thorr are joined by snowboarding legend Jamie Lynn to explore the Volcom warehouse with their musical attack.
 
Saturday 5/31/2008
Team Extreme! – 4:00am ET in Unprotected Sets
In this comedy, a washed up pro rollerskater is recruited to delve into the skateboard scene and bust the pushers of a potent new soft drink that’s making kids a little too “extreme.”