by The Editors on October 16, 2012
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Spy has taken the opportunity to add to their collaboration with the Keep A Breast Foundation with a couple new shades that add to the Spy + Keep A Breast Zed snow goggle. For instance the new Keep A Breast Helm.
“The crew at Keep A Breast are innovators when it comes to incorporating health education into the lives of active people,” says Kevin Casillo, SPY marketing manager. “SPY aims to give back wherever we can, and it doesn’t get any better than partnering with a local non-profit that’s causing world-wide awareness about an issue that impacts millions every year.”
Spy will donate $5 from every sunglass to Keep A Breast. Follow the jump from more on the complete Spy + Keep A Breast collaboration. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on October 16, 2012
Spy is stoked to announce that they have someone to manage their elite surf team. It’s Chris Abad.
A respected and experienced pro surfer, Abad brings added authenticity to SPY’s booming eyewear business, which has seen tremendous growth over the last year and a half. . . “If you can’t out-surf Abad, you may be taken off our roster,” laughs Devon Howard, SPY marketing director. “In all seriousness, his former team manager roles, Surf Ride retail experience, and event marketing at SPY this past year make him a natural fit. But he’s more than just another guy with a great resume. Everyone loves Abad—he’s good people.”
Congrats, Chris. For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on October 15, 2012
Seeing as five of Plan B’s skaters also ride for Nixon, both crews thought it would be awesome to put their heads together. The result is The Soundclash Project.
The Soundclash Project is made up of new pro model boards representing Paul Rodriguez, Torey Pudwill, Ryan Sheckler, Danny Way and Colin McKay. Each board features pre-applied custom grip tape, corresponding custom wheels and a custom color update to Nixon’s TPS (mobile speaker). This collar is now available on nixon.com/soundclash and select skate shops worldwide in limited quantities and once they sell out, they are gone forever.
A skate deck, wheels, and a Nixon TPS. Click here to snap one up now, or follow the jump from more info and photos. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on October 11, 2012
Looks like TPG, the fund that many felt was Billabong’s only hope, has withdrawn its offer, according to story in the Sydney Morning Herald.
The proposal has been withdrawn and talks have ceased, Billabong said in a statement this morning.. . The withdrawal of the bid is likely to put further pressure on Billabong’s shares as the firm struggles with a weakening retail outlook in. . . Shares in the company, which traded at nearly $12 in 2010 and fell as much as a quarter last week after TPG first raised concerned, opened 1 cent, or 1 per cent, higher at $1.005 this morning.
So this means, after taking a really close look at the company TPG decided that they weren’t interested in pursuing what many felt was a low ball offer. Guess it’s time for Launa Inman to get to work with new board chairman Dr. Ian Pollard and turn the slogging Billabong ship around and point it toward the channel before it gets washed up on the rocks.
Follow the jump for the official Billabong press release. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on October 10, 2012
Stance has pulled up a whole new collection for winter 2012-13 and it’s all here.
Whether you’re throwing double corks in the park or destroying pillow lines in the backcountry, we’ve got your feet covered. We create socks that keep you warm, dry, and ready to rock. Yet there’s more to it than that. We also aim to blend form and function. By collaborating with our team of Punks and Poets, we craft socks as original as the riders who run them. After all, your socks should ooze with style—not sweat. At Stance, we focus on your feet so you don’t have to.
Click the link for more infos.
[Link: Stance]
by The Editors on October 9, 2012
While telling the world that the TPG deal is not “guaranteed” Billabong has also board membered up by adding in Dr. Ian Pollard to the position of director and chairman elect of its board.
Dr Pollard will join the Board as Chairman Elect and interim Chair of the Audit Committee on Wednesday, 24 October 2012 following the company’s Annual General Meeting. . . Dr Pollard is an actuary, Rhodes Scholar and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has held a wide range of senior business roles including as Chairman of Just Group Limited and of Corporate Express Australia Limited and as a Director of OPSM Group Limited and DCA Group Limited, which he founded. . . He is currently Chairman of RGA Reinsurance Company of Australia Limited, a director of Milton Corporation Limited and of SCA Property Group and an executive coach with Foresight’s Global Coaching.
Sounds like a pretty bright guy and bright guys are good to have on the board. Follow the jump for the official word from Billabong.
[Update October 10, 2012: Turns out Pollard will only take the board chairman position if the TPG deal falls through, according to a story in The Australian. Guess that makes sense.] [click to continue…]
by The Editors on October 4, 2012
Thanks to a media report in The Australian Financial Review claiming that private investment firm TPG was about ready to pull out of its purchase of Billabong, shared slid so low that trading had to be stopped on Thursday, October 4, 2012, according to a story on ABC News.
TPG has refused to comment on a media report claiming it is considering pulling out of its $700 million dollar takeover bid. . . Billabong shares slumped more than 18 per cent to $1.075 before the company requested and was granted a trading halt by the ASX due to the market speculation.
AFR now says that TPG is still in the game however, they are looking very closely in several areas.
Concerns about Billabong’s earnings forecasts and the strength of its core brand have prompted private equity suitor TPG to express serious doubts about its $695 million approach. . . The Australian Financial Review revealed online yesterday that TPG was considering walking away from the long-running pursuit of the surf and board sports company.
Follow the jump to read Billabong’s official response to the AFR story. There has to be light at the end of the tunnel somewhere. Sadly, it’s not in view yet.
[Link: Australian Financial Review via ABC News] [click to continue…]
by The Editors on October 3, 2012
A team of researchers at the University of Queensland and the University of Western Australia believe that they can design a wetsuit so visually repelling that sharks won’t even come near a surfer who is wearing the suit, according to a story on ABC.net.au.
“Sharks are highly visual animals but the world they see lacks colour and will appear as shades of grey like we see when we watch a black and white movie,” he said. . . “It may be possible to use this knowledge to change the way a shark reacts to certain objects. . . “It may also lead to better design of equipment such as wetsuits and surfboards that reduce the risk of shark attack.” . . . UWA’s Professor Shaun Collin says they plan to create a wetsuit, using particular patterns, that would make the wearer look unappealing to sharks. . . “It makes the wearer appear obnoxious, poisonous or unattractive to the shark, somewhat like a sea snake,” said.
Sounds like a description of half the groms at our local break. . .
[Link: ABC.net.au]
by The Editors on September 29, 2012
Looks like 686’s Patrick McCarthy has been putting in a little time behind the desk. Nerdcore 2013, huh?
[Link: 686]
by The Editors on September 28, 2012
A gem thief in Montgomery Township, Pennsylvania hid out in a Costco until the place was closed and then made off with $91,000 in jewels, according to a story on 6abc.com. The only thing police have to go on is a DC Shoes hat.
Store cameras capture him wandering around the aisles dressed all in black and wearing a hat like with a logo from DC Shoes. . . When the coast is clear, he hides, though police aren’t publicly releasing where. . . “It’s an area where if someone was hiding there, an employee would not look in that particular area to see if anyone was still in there,” said Detective Bennis. . . . The suspect stays hidden for roughly three and a half hours as the store closes and employees do a final sweep to make sure customers are gone. . . Around midnight, 15 minutes after the last employee leaves, the man makes his move, grabbing a TV before he crashes it into jewelry cases in complete darkness.
Guess he has to pay for those drifting tires somehow.
[Link: 6abc.com]
